Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Ihilani Coffee]

Ask away... Although there is a TON of good info in this thread, it is hidden in pages and pages of posts.
If there is something you specifically want to know - A S K ...

No one is expected to read ALL the prior posts. . . . .

I do use the search function but it can be cumbersome to find what I'm wanting to know specifically. Not expected to read all prior posts, but I have been directed to do so. I'm not usually so good at taking direction, this is why I'm successfully self-employed X 7 ;-)

 

[cypressdrake]

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Are people willing to share their BCM incubation "recipes?" Some have good luck with dry incubation methods, some say slightly higher temperature, etc. I'm about to launch into my first experience with an older GQF 1266 (meant for emu, etc. I believe). It's kind of in the "oldie but goodie" category from what I've researched. Please keep it as simple as possible like a recipe:
1. Set no egg over 7 days old, stored at 50-60 degrees F.
2. 99.5 F at 40% humidity.
3. Increase to 75% humidity on day 18 and stop turning.
Etc...

Mahalo (thanks) in advance for your opinions. It would be great to include your hatch rates on different recipes also.

 

[midnight2157]

Anybody have any idea what kind of Maran this lovely girl is? I also have a black copper maran, no doubt about her. This brown hen lays the most eggs of all and they are dark. I just got all my hens a month ago and had ordered the two marans. Also got two light Sussex and two rhode island reds and an americauna. They are all the most inquisitive and friendly girls. So far, only the Marans are laying, but expect the rest to start soon.

 

[DMRippy]

Are people willing to share their BCM incubation "recipes?"  Some have good luck with dry incubation methods, some say slightly higher temperature, etc.  I'm about to launch into my first experience with an older GQF 1266 (meant for emu, etc. I believe).  It's kind of in the "oldie but goodie" category from what I've researched.  Please keep it as simple as possible like a recipe:
1.  Set no egg over 7 days old, stored at 50-60 degrees F.
2.  99.5 F at 40% humidity.
3.  Increase to 75% humidity on day 18 and stop turning.
Etc...

Mahalo (thanks) in advance for your opinions.  It would be great to include your hatch rates on different recipes also.

that sounds right but I would add 40% and lower......35% is my mark I worry if it gets bigger than that. you can hatch eggs of any age but you will get better hatches with the freshest eggs. I set a ton of eggs...over 200 once and most were over a month old. still had a decent hatch. (long story why....but they hatched about 50% or more of what I set)

 

[lindz8504]

Anybody have any idea what kind of Maran this lovely girl is? I also have a black copper maran, no doubt about her. This brown hen lays the most eggs of all and they are dark. I just got all my hens a month ago and had ordered the two marans. Also got two light Sussex and two rhode island reds and an americauna. They are all the most inquisitive and friendly girls. So far, only the Marans are laying, but expect the rest to start soon.

No idea but she is a beautiful girl and those eggs are gorgeous!

 

[Old Hens House]

Just a couple of pictures of my Molly Maran. She has started to molt for the second time and she is almost 2 years old now. Molly thinks she is the Mom of the yard. She lays the most beautiful chocolate brown eggs for me. She soon will have another Maran, her name is Cuckoo Channel, (thats right a Cuckoo Maran) they are both very big birds and tower over my other hens.I really love them both. I have to do without eggs from Molly for a bit but Cuckoo will soon start laying, she is laying now I think but I have no way of telling, I have 15 Ladies and only 4 are yet to start laying. The color of the eggs I get are all light tan to chocolate brown. I will know for sure soon the youngest ladies are now 9months old, that is 36 weeks. Cuckoos girlfriends are two Ameraucanas and one Easter Egger. These pictures show the girls out for a garden buffet prior to retiring.

As usual Molly say this is the end and goodnight everyone.

 

[Wynette]

Awe...I like your names you chose for them! (Sidebar: when referring to this breed, they are always Marans - with an "s" on the end - even if it's just one you're referring to one.)

Enjoy your birds!

 

[chickadoodles]

Hello, I am trying to get some Marans for my first time. I found a lady that has Blue Maran hens with a Birchen Rooster over them. She showed me pics of the offspring and they are blue. But does that mean they will be a mixed mess? Not worth anything?

 

[Wynette]

Hello, I am trying to get some Marans for my first time. I found a lady that has Blue Maran hens with a Birchen Rooster over them. She showed me pics of the offspring and they are blue. But does that mean they will be a mixed mess? Not worth anything?

Several folks are working on Blue Birchen; I don't know if this woman is doing that, but that's how you would go about it (well, that's one of the ways). When you say "not worth anything" I'm a bit concerned; if you are getting these birds to try to make money, you need to know up front that poultry keeping is not really a money making venture. Don't get me wrong, there are folks that do make money with it, but they are few & far between.