Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[DMRippy]

Quote:
That is what he has. I have some new hatches... maybe I will try again. It just looked SOOOOOO BIG next to that tiny foot.

 

[gilavina]

That is what he has. I have some new hatches... maybe I will try again. It just looked SOOOOOO BIG next to that tiny foot.

haha too funny. You can do a test run and maybe try to see what it looks like punched through some thicker material...maybe cardstock or something like that to get an idea of the size of hole it will give.

 

[xlboergoats]

you just hold the little toes apart and it makes getting the webbing into the tool much easier.

We use a toe punch that we ordered from one of the Poultry Supply companies. It is very small and fits into the web easily. There are many places that sell toe punches. We punch ours as soon as we take them out of the hatcher. We punch the web from the bottom upwards. While the punch is still in place, I remove the little piece of skin with that was punched with my thumb nail. We have had some of them grow back before we started removing the little flap that was puched.

Ernie Haire
Arp, Texas
www.Marans2XL.com

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I just can't figure out how to position the punch. Do you go in from the front or the side or what? I NEED A PICTURE

 

[gilavina]

I just can't figure out how to position the punch. Do you go in from the front or the side or what? I NEED A PICTURE

haha I don't have any chickers at the moment, or otherwise I'd do a photo thing for you. You go from the front, inbetween the toes and like Ernie said, which I should have mentioned before, I also punch so that the skin part pushes thru to the top. Much easier that way.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
OK so you are really using the tool UPSIDE DOWN? I can see that would work better. I was afraid I was going to get a toe the other way. Good. I REALLY need to tag some of these Marans so I don't get them mixed up. Thanks. I will get the punch and put it in my purse.

 

[desertmarcy]

did you use a leather punch or the tiny punch that they sell for chicks? If it was the tiny one, it often does close over.

It was the tiny, hard to handle and manipulate, one they sell for chicks. I didn't know any other way.

 

[desertmarcy]

you just hold the little toes apart and it makes getting the webbing into the tool much easier.

I think I had better luck punching when the chicks were a little older. My eyes are just not very good close up. I may need to do this under my magnifier lamp. I will make sure I don't leave the little skin punch-out hanging there next time, maybe that was my problem. As I recall one of the toe punch charts posted on BYC showed 2 punches in one toe web. I just don't see how there is room to do that on day old chicks.

 

[desertmarcy]

haha I don't have any chickers at the moment, or otherwise I'd do a photo thing for you. You go from the front, inbetween the toes and like Ernie said, which I should have mentioned before, I also punch so that the skin part pushes thru to the top. Much easier that way.

Oh good to know, I was trying it both ways (skin part going down and up) and wasn't sure which was working better. Thanks.

 

[DMRippy]

Leather punch and GLASSES packed for tomorrow

I will do this this time.