Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[shotzy007]

My sweet Patsy is taking a break in this cold Texas weather. She deserves it.

 

[CRAZYJAY]

I am new to BYC, but I have 3 black marans with feathered legs and copper colored feathers around the neck. They are 23 weeks old and I found 1 brown egg in the hutch this morning. First one, and there is also a New England red hen in with them and she is the same age, don't know which one laid the egg. I didn't get a roo among the 4 that survived when I bought these. I think I bought 4 of each, and 3 copper marans survived, all girls, and the only the one new England survived. A few weeks before that I had bought some americauna chicks, and as I got interested in learning enough to raise the chickens successfully, I became interested in these 2 other breeds. Anyway, I think that I will have to take the new England red hen out of the cage, because she seems to be oppressed by the 3 copper marans. Is this typical behavior of the breed?

 

[Broad St Farm]

I am new to BYC, but I have 3 black marans with feathered legs and copper colored feathers around the neck. They are 23 weeks old and I found 1 brown egg in the hutch this morning. First one, and there is also a New England red hen in with them and she is the same age, don't know which one laid the egg. I didn't get a roo among the 4 that survived when I bought these. I think I bought 4 of each, and 3 copper marans survived, all girls, and the only the one new England survived. A few weeks before that I had bought some americauna chicks, and as I got interested in learning enough to raise the chickens successfully, I became interested in these 2 other breeds. Anyway, I think that I will have to take the new England red hen out of the cage, because she seems to be oppressed by the 3 copper marans. Is this typical behavior of the breed?

If the Marans grew up together and separate from the red, or difference in size then any breed would do that. If they all grew up together from hatch than its not typical.

 

[CRAZYJAY]

They have been together since hatching, but the marans do seem to be a little bit larger sized birds now than Sandy is (this new Hampshire, or new England, or whatever she is). She is very pretty, but just in the last week of so she has been running from the marans. and staying in the hutch when they go out into the yard. If she comes out, they chase her back. Found another egg in the hutch, but still don't know which one is laying. I am not sure what to do with her. I have some Australorps that are about 18 weeks old in with red sexlinks. Also have 2 pullets that are buff orpingtons, but they are about 14 or 15 weeks old, and the nights are cold, so I don't want to put her by herself. The Americaunas have been together since hatching, and seem to get along with each other well, but they are very flighty, and nervous acting. I don't want Sandy to be picked on. I think she is my favorite, and want her to be happy with her situation. As I said, I am very new at this. Have had chickens for about 6 months now. So far, it just seems like they don't like to be by themselves in general.

 

[Broad St Farm]

They have been together since hatching,  but the marans do seem to be a little bit larger sized birds now than  Sandy is (this new Hampshire, or new England, or whatever she is).  She is very pretty, but just in the last week of so she has been running from the marans.  and staying in the hutch when they go out into the yard.  If she comes out, they chase her back.  Found another egg in the hutch, but still don't know which one is laying.  I am not sure what to do with her.  I have some Australorps that are about 18 weeks old in with red sexlinks.   Also have 2 pullets that are buff orpingtons, but they are about 14 or 15 weeks old, and the nights are cold, so I don't want to put her by herself.  The Americaunas have been together since hatching, and seem to get along with each other well, but they are very flighty, and nervous acting.   I don't want Sandy to be picked on.  I think she is my favorite,  and want her to be happy with her situation.  As I said, I am very new at this.  Have had chickens for about 6 months now.  So far, it just seems like they don't like to be by themselves in general. 

Try putting a mature male in with them. Sometime males will keep order.

 

[KsKingBee]

I don't recall ever seeing this before, but strange I should see it in this thread a week or two back, and then today one of my chicks started doing it, though not quite as extreme. (sorry, I have no camera).

I have 5 splash I hatched from my own birds, and they are 4 weeks old. They are in a box in the house with pine shavings, and they are getting fed chick starter only.

Today one of them can't seem to raise it's head. It has no discernible injury, and doesn't seem sick. It's head isn't all the way on the ground, but just kind of halfway hanging down, and it can't raise it's head any higher.

I don't remember ever seeing that problem before.

Did your chicken pull through? How about an update on what you did and the results you received?

 

[gilavina]

First eggs from the last group of younguns. These are from a pen with black, blue and splash copper pullets, so will have to sort out who is laying what this winter. The one on the left is massive, I'm assuming a double yolker, but still decent color for being so big. The other has a nice dark rich color, kinda washed out with the flash on the camera, but its overcast, so need the flash.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep making improvements next year in egg color.

 

[Hens and Roos]

First eggs from the last group of younguns. These are from a pen with black, blue and splash copper pullets, so will have to sort out who is laying what this winter. The one on the left is massive, I'm assuming a double yolker, but still decent color for being so big. The other has a nice dark rich color, kinda washed out with the flash on the camera, but its overcast, so need the flash.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep making improvements next year in egg color.

Very nice and what a large egg!

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

First eggs from the last group of younguns. These are from a pen with black, blue and splash copper pullets, so will have to sort out who is laying what this winter. The one on the left is massive, I'm assuming a double yolker, but still decent color for being so big. The other has a nice dark rich color, kinda washed out with the flash on the camera, but its overcast, so need the flash.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep making improvements next year in egg color.

This is my first year with Marans, and I'm noticing those huge double yolkers as first eggs a lot. Is this a Marans thing? My other breeds tend to lay smaller eggs at first...you know, PULLET eggs! Right now I have a BCM that has not yet laid an egg that is eggbound, probably a huge one like this. I am guessing the white is for comparison, but "never assume" is a good idea.

 

[Wynette]

lovely eggs, gilavina - interesting that the massive one doens't have a sheen to it like the other one does. Poor pullet! (hope you got that gal a shot of whiskey or something!)

My hens have all stopped laying for the season, except for ONE old gal that started back up again just last week. Strange, I've never had one molt & then start back up again a few weeks post-molt.