Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Hens and Roos]

I will get this issue licked. I need to only mark a few because they LOOK too much like others. My leather punch has a Solid base for the punch to CUT on and that plat form is kinda big and if I put any pressure to cut I looks like the toes will be hurt. I can find another one that would work better. I like the amount of pressure you can apply with the leather punch. The little ones don't apple to me. A Exacto knife is a good idea too. Thanks.

Good luck with this! We use the different color zip ties to mark our birds until we decide who stays and who goes, then we use leg bands- we have had 1 band come off but not a big worry as he is the only rooster of that breed. I know changing zip ties takes more time but it is easy enough for my DD and I to take care as we only have around 30 adults and 25 chicks right now.

you could check at a farm supply store for surgical scissors back by the animal supplies.

 

[Keara]

I've got Pipping!

Eggs set to hatch for groundhog day. Photo makes the darkest eggs look purple, which they are not darkest eggs are about a 6. Have a blue copper hen and about half these eggs are hers. Hope I will get a blue chick.

 

[Zanna]

I've got Pipping!

Yay!!! My first hatch of the year goes into lockdown Tuesday

 

[K Epp]

I'm going to look at both Black Cooper Maran and Cukoo Marans tomorrow. I have never had either. I'm new to the chicken world. I have a pair of Brown Leghorns, 2 EE Roos and 2 EE pullets. I had 4 pullets and have discovered that 2 of them are cockrels. The man I bought them from is letting me trade them for pullets. With 3 roos already I don't want anymore. I would like to add the dark eggs to my basket. ...if my girls ever start laying.

Is there any thing specific I should look for to ensure I get pullets? From the few pics I have seen the Maran hens appear to have small combs and waddles. Is there any difference in the Marans other than the color? I have read that the Black have darker eggs, but is there that much difference? Personalities?

Well I didn't get any Marans.

He only had one Cukoo and he wanted more than I wanted to pay for it. He had a white with a few black spots and said it laid dark eggs, I had no idea what it was. He was asking $30 for each of those. Keep in mind this is my first few hens and I onlu want a colorful basket of eggs not show birds. I got 2 really nice looking Black Australorp 5mth old pullets $15 each, another Brown Leghorn, and to replace the EE roos I returned. A EE hen and a Silver Laced Wyandotte who are laying. I added $5 for the Wyandotte. He then tried to show us his new baby goats at a different barn. They sure were cute, but no more goats for me. ...for now anyways. lol Then I saw a unadintafiable brown hen who looked kinda like my Leghorns with no comb and kinda like Welsumer in the barnyard with two tiny chicks. He told me if I could catch them I could have them. Oh it was on then....



Anyone want to guess at what kind and how old these two are? The one on top has more red than the bottom and they both have almost a lace pattern on their wing feathers. I dont care what kind they are, but how old are they when they start getting wing feathers? I'll get better pics tomorrow. ...and I said I wasn't doing baby chicks. They would probably freeze outside tonight so I can only help them. There was no catching the Mama though.

 

[mstrawn3]

I have a question for the Marans experts... What do you think about a cross between a Black Australorp rooster and Blue and Splash Marans? I don't have a Marans rooster but I want to make some more dark egg layers. Thanks! Your input is appreciated.

 

[SixHix]

I've had some difficulty hatching Marans eggs, chicks develop but have a difficult time making it out of the egg,,, and wondered if they hatch better with this method.  Do some breeds hatch more successfully with this method ???  and why ?

I have an incubator full of Marans and other breeds that are hatching now. I'm beginning to think that inbreeding and 100 years of people helping expensive chicks out of their eggs have selected for birds that can't seem to hatch on their own...

 

[blackbirds13]

Quote:
I had my best hatch on the BCM's last year when I followed the advise some give on here to dry incubate. I'm expecting some eggs later on this spring and will try that same technique. In fact, it's how I run my 1-18 day Genesis incubator for all my eggs and so far my hatch rate has definitely improved. I just need to fine tune the lockdown incubator and keeping the humidity more consistent in that one as I think any losses I've had have been on that end and my fault.

 

[gilavina]

I have an incubator full of Marans and other breeds that are hatching now. I'm beginning to think that inbreeding and 100 years of people helping expensive chicks out of their eggs have selected for birds that can't seem to hatch on their own...

the thickness and density of the egg shell, along with the coating on the outside has a great affect on the incubation process. Because of this, the humidity level matters more for Marans eggs. If the humidity is too high, the liquid in the egg does not reduce enough and chicks often drown or stop developing. Its just part of the breed, and not necessarily having anything to do with people. It takes a bit to get the conditions in the incubator just so for the marans, but once you do, they hatch wonderfully. Many people on the thread have great luck with hatching them.

 

[flgardengirl]

I have my best hatches when I totally forget to add any water after the first time (when initially setting the eggs) and just add the minimal amt at hatch and just let them do their thing. It might be different if I lived in a dry climate. It is pretty humid here already so no need to add much.

 

[snowbird]

I have a question for the Marans experts... What do you think about a cross between a Black Australorp rooster and Blue and Splash Marans? I don't have a Marans rooster but I want to make some more dark egg layers. Thanks! Your input is appreciated.

Just my own opinion but I think it would be a waste of a good looking Marans female.