Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Wynette]

Don, I'm not quite sure why you are pushing so hard on this - I've already stated that I am breeding away from it, as have you. For me, I really don't care whether it's put in black & white in the standard, as I am breeding away from it regardless. It really doens't matter to me, but I do believe you are confused and that it may have been the Cuckoo variety you are speaking on.

Besides, the president of the club responsible for admitting the Marans to the APA has already posted stating it was not them that made such a request - that's good enough for me.

 

[smarsh]

Maran question please

how broody are Marans?
Interested in them but really tired of breaking up broody hens.

thanks

 

[snowbird]

Don, I'm not quite sure why you are pushing so hard on this - I've already stated that I am breeding away from it, as have you. For me, I really don't care whether it's put in black & white in the standard, as I am breeding away from it regardless. It really doens't matter to me, but I do believe you are confused and that it may have been the Cuckoo variety you are speaking on.

Besides, the president of the club responsible for admitting the Marans to the APA has already posted stating it was not them that made such a request - that's good enough for me.

Wynette I am not confused about the variety. I have the emails and PMs to verify.

 

[Wynette]

Wynette I am not confused about the variety. I have the emails and PMs to verify.

I have no idea what you're talking about, Don. I never said the white tail feather should be acceptable. If I did, which I sure don't recall, I'm certainly no longer of that opinion. I'll state again that I am breeding away from this - I cull for white underhackle, white in tail, white in primary wing feathers. Do I have some in my flock? Yes. Am I culling for it? Yes. But, if I have a very nice example that's good in type and lays the appropriately dark egg, I will use her. All of my customers know this.

 

[Wynette]

Maran question please

how broody are Marans?
Interested in them but really tired of breaking up broody hens.

thanks

Mine do not tend to be overly broody - I get maybe 2 or 3 a year in my flock. But, I have seen others comment that there hens are quite broody. I actually LOVE a good broody! I'd much rather have a hen do the work than my incubator.

 

[KsKingBee]

I've never had experience with this kind of symptom, but was wondering if you had posted in the emergencie/diseases, etc section of BYC? You might get more help there.

Yes, thank you Gilavina. We posted on at least three threads and got one feedback with the thought of limp neck (wryneck?), botulism, or mites.

We posted an update photo of the bird limp, and then again the next day when it had perked up some and now today it is standing upright, walking around and eating like it hasn't for two days. The transformation is unbelievable, at one point we thought it was a gonner until when little by little and noticeable hour by hour how it recuperates.

This is the fourth bird we have had do this, one BO and three BCM, all at about seven to eight weeks old from three different hatches. We find them having a hard time holding their heads up, this one was worse, as it had it's head laying on the ground while still somewhat standing. We take them into the garage, isolation, feed them vitamin water, vitamin E down the throat, scramble eggs and sprinkle vitamins, flock fuel, and more vitamin E on the eggs. And give them high protein (28%) starter fermented. So far every bird has come out of it but it sure seems like other people should have experienced this but it seems to be a mystery to everyone.

Botulism seems to be the likely answer to me as the birds will not eat much for awhile, perhaps clearing out the system and then the high protein and vitamins help it overcome.... I'm am still guessing but that's all I got. Thanks again.

 

[smarsh]

Mine do not tend to be overly broody - I get maybe 2 or 3 a year in my flock. But, I have seen others comment that there hens are quite broody. I actually LOVE a good broody! I'd much rather have a hen do the work than my incubator.

thanks, it is a totally different world in an urban backyard with no fertile eggs. I agree though, a broody hen is the way to go.

 

[Wynette]

thanks, it is a totally different world in an urban backyard with no fertile eggs. I agree though, a broody hen is the way to go.

I get that. Broodies are easy to break - I take a plastic dog crate, cut the bottom out & replace with hardware cloth, then place the hen inside - NO shavings, and raise the crate up onto blocks so that the air passes underneath. Usually 2 days in the crate (of course provide feed & water in cage cups) will break a broody.

 

[handhpoultry]

I have never heard anyone in the Marans Chicken Club USA ask for the Standard to allow for white feathers in the wings and tails of the Black Coppers.

 

[Wynette]

handh - that's a cute chick in your avatar - a Black Copper?