Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

We were pretty humid here during my last hatch and it was nice that I was able to keep the humidity down in the incubator. Right now with no eggs or water in it, its running at like 15% humidity. So tomorrow I will collect a couple more eggs and put them in. Let the chips fall were they may. What sucks is that I dont like how unpredictable Marans eggs are. I have no idea how many birds I will end up with.

I hear ya...sadly with the humidity here running between 65 and 99% during the last few weeks, there is no way to regulate the humidity. Just even walking it feels like you are walking through a thick dampness.
Even weirder...we just got hailed on and it was raining straight into the house from the west, but is still sunny out? Soooo weird

 

[laughingclown]

I hear ya...sadly with the humidity here running between 65 and 99% during the last few weeks, there is no way to regulate the humidity. Just even walking it feels like you are walking through a thick dampness.
Even weirder...we just got hailed on and it was raining straight into the house from the west, but is still sunny out? Soooo weird

Dont get me wrong. We have quite a bit humidity right now, just i have the bator in the house where its a bit more stable.

 

[gilavina]

Dont get me wrong. We have quite a bit humidity right now, just i have the bator in the house where its a bit more stable.

Indeed. I was hoping for some fall hatches, but I'm second guessing it where this heat is holding on longer

 

[laughingclown]

Indeed. I was hoping for some fall hatches, but I'm second guessing it where this heat is holding on longer

Well I would rather not start a batch now as Im running out of room, but Im trying to get a lot of stuff done with these guys before next spring. Not to mention I have nothing better to do during winter. I dont want to be outside in the cold thats for sure. At least I havent had much trouble getting rid of my culls so far. Now my roos thats another story. I almost have to pay someone to take them lol.

 

[fergy623]

hi Just cutting in here, Donna! whats wrong with plastic rings? I need to be educated, and by the way. Those colours ar eCool. I would like some flair like that in my Marans

 

[fergy623]

Thats horrible. Paying someone to take them isn't what we wanted to hear. or Read. Most people have a time limit on when they need to dump livestock. no matter the cost I feel there are alot of resources to reach out for like resturants, Cook Kitchens, Heck if were giving them away lets offer to the needy near home. but Free range birds are a desired meat by many people and they will buy them. I for one will not sucumb to losing money on the birds. I would rather keep them for a bigger profit. Try sausages. those are in Greater demand these days.

 

[SarniaTricia]

Hi All ... Been Reading and learning Thank you Vicki and Don for all the photos and comments to refer back to:
I have some updated photos of my "Groceries" from Donna... They hatched June 7th...
Here are my Black Copper...All of the Black copper have great leg feathering...
The first two were shown at fair this past weekend... They didn't have a Marans category... but they won 2nd in the open.
Not allot of copper on these two.. but I have someone with a black copper roo with more copper that wants to trade me.. yeh for me!



The one posted above here may not stay in the breeder pen.... she has a mossy chest and is a bit small...but if she is put with the very black roo....???

The little blue copper girl above... is gorgeous!!! she is beefy and has a nice bit of copper...

Here is the Cuckoo Marans:
The boys did not have leg feathering... So I am hoping the girls will help the offspring.....

Donna you will be happy to know only one other showed the copper in the cuckoos...(none of the boys... it was just the girls...)

Here is an odditity:looks like a silkie slipped into your Ameraucanas pens!



Any comments are always appreaciated...
Thanks
Patricia

 

[DMRippy]

hi Just cutting in here, Donna! whats wrong with plastic rings? I need to be educated, and by the way. Those colours ar eCool. I would like some flair like that in my Marans

I don't remember that.... refresh my brain please????

'

I can't take credit for him... he came from Pinkchick. Raven1 grew him up for me

 

[laughingclown]

Thats horrible. Paying someone to take them isn't what we wanted to hear. or Read. Most people have a time limit on when they need to dump livestock. no matter the cost I feel there are alot of resources to reach out for like resturants, Cook Kitchens, Heck if were giving them away lets offer to the needy near home. but Free range birds are a desired meat by many people and they will buy them. I for one will not sucumb to losing money on the birds. I would rather keep them for a bigger profit. Try sausages. those are in Greater demand these days.

Im sorry, it was more of a figure of speech lol. I would never pay someone to take my birds. Im poor enough as it is. If it came that dire I would find a way. Maybe drop them off in a field somewhere as some have done. Kidding with that statement too.

 

[blackbirds13]

Thats horrible. Paying someone to take them isn't what we wanted to hear. or Read. Most people have a time limit on when they need to dump livestock. no matter the cost I feel there are alot of resources to reach out for like resturants, Cook Kitchens, Heck if were giving them away lets offer to the needy near home. but Free range birds are a desired meat by many people and they will buy them. I for one will not sucumb to losing money on the birds. I would rather keep them for a bigger profit. Try sausages. those are in Greater demand these days.

There are some states that have regulations against selling/giving away meat or 'intended' meat birds without a license or some sort of authorization. I believe that my state of NH has laws that restrict processing and poultry meat sales. Here in NH also you do have to practically pay to get rid of them sometimes - maybe laughingclown was just joking but here it's called The Rooster Man and he comes to the local swaps every once in a while and many times he is in demand and he does get paid to take roosters of a a certain age. Finding someone to process birds here can at times be a bit trying if you only have a few to do. Sometimes, as unfortunate as it is to some sensibilities, the departure of rooster culls from one's flock may not be as politically correct as some may like. Feeding them is an expense some people may not want to encumber until they are suitable for eating. And some just may not want to do the deed themselves. I think every one has to find a method that works for them and we should be cognizant that not everyone has the same outlets for disposal as others or the ability to hold on to any number of birds for durations of time.

JMHO and now back to ...

how many times did i use some or sometimes.....
ETA - it'll be a while before I'm in the black when it comes to my chicken finances and I'm not too worried about it at this point as I haven't thought about making a profit but am working towards maybe breaking even at some point...maybe...at some point...