Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Hens~

We are setting eggs on Dec.11th for the New Year's hatch. Come over and join in. YeeeeeeeeHaaaawwwwwww! Fun Fun!

here's the link....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=414759

If anyone is interested in seeing who is who, Kathyinmo suggested in order to spark up some fun and get to know one another while we are waiting to set eggs that we post photos of ourselves. It has been wonderful to see all of the beautiful faces here on BYC and to be able to put the faces to the names.

I LOVE BYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NewHen]

It's possible that the darker speckled one was from a solid black marans. The BCM hatched mid-May and the BBS marans hatched mid-June. The blue marans aren't as big as the black marans which also has a much larger comb, though they all hatched at the same time. So, I don't think the blue are laying yet, but who knows. The only ones I've actually seen laying eggs have been the BO, sex-link, australorp and BCM. I have a light brahma who hatched in March and is huge, but I've never seen her in the nesting box. So far, I'm getting a very dark egg every to every other day, with an occasional not as dark, but speckled egg. Today, for the first time, I also got a dark AND speckled egg, but it seemed like the upper middle one, just a darker color under the speckles. From my non-marans, I get medium brown and very light brown eggs, with and without speckles.

It's such a treat to find those dark ones! I was expecting that the first eggs the marans laid would be small, but these have been pretty big from the start. They also have a different shape than the non-marans eggs. They're less long....rounder.

Happy Thanksgiving!




Quote:
newhen,
Are you sure the middle egg in the top row is not from one of the blues? I have had some that look like that from my blues. I am very interested in following the progression of your blue and black birds..

Stay warm everyone...
ON

 

[flgardengirl]

newhen, my light brahmas took about 7 mos to start laying, one took longer. Once they started to lay they are pretty steady. They are just huge fluffy butts lol. I got them because they are so huggable, squeezable soft LOL!

 

[math ace]

ON - - - I see your new avitar today!

Happy Thanksgiving day everyone!

We are cooking out - - Clams, Hamburgers, corn on the cob, and watermelon and pineapple..

It is SUNNY And 80 F outside ! Absolutely NO WAY am I doing the Turkey thing today

 

[Organics North]

Quote:

Venison sauerbraten with ginger snap gravy, red cabbage with apples and Spätzle.. Is the thing to have when it is 9 F outside and white with ice on the lakes...

----
New hen.. Interesting!
My blue girls are so round and plump like little butter balls.. So lovable....

I am in love with Marans too.. Such big eggs from pullets, and a different more round shape..

ON

 

[Debbi]

Hope everyone had a great day! Pink, you are so lucky to be with family. My Sister called and we talked for an hour. I haven't seen her since 1994 as she lives across the country. Haven't seen my brother in probably 25 years! My Son is in Iraq, my Daughter in Texas...sigh. I sure hope one day before I leave this planet, we can all get together for one meal.

Just after I let the chooks out this morning, we had torrential rains. Now the chicklets got rained on the other day when it warmed back up to 60*, but today, it was 40*, wind blowing, and the temps are dropping into the teens tonight. These dumbies stood out in the rain and refused to go in their coop. Needless to say, when the rain stopped, they were soaked to the skin!

I ran back in the house and fixed up some cages. Took the transport cage out to the run, and really expected a hard time trying to get them in. To my surprise, when I put the cage on the ground, they all ran to it! They are so big now I can only take 3 of them at a time instead of all 5. The poor dummies were soaked to the skin and shivering. Got them settled and went back for the other 2. They were standing by their gate peeping their fool heads off. Got them inside, gave them all some vitamins/electrolytes and food. They ate like pigs, got a good drink, and all nestled down into their shavings. They were so happy to be back in the house! I wouldn't have slept a wink tonight thinking that my babies were out there freezing to death or getting pnuemonia! Was telling my sister about it, and as she was laughing at me, Roy, the largest cockerel belted out a few crows for her. She really laughed then, "OMG, you are a piece of work!!"

Got to love those chickens..

Oh yes, then we got 2" of snow! Looks like we may get a bit more tonight.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:

Venison sauerbraten with ginger snap gravy, red cabbage with apples and Spätzle.. Is the thing to have when it is 9 F outside and white with ice on the lakes...

----
New hen.. Interesting!
My blue girls are so round and plump like little butter balls.. So lovable....

I am in love with Marans too.. Such big eggs from pullets, and a different more round shape..

ON

Saurbraten??!!

I haven't had that in AGES!! Loved it with the red cabbage and potato pancakes! I can't even think of a German restaurant around here, let alone one that serves it. May have to make my own one day. I did the usual turkey dinner. Was going to do a leg of lamb until I saw the price! They wanted $67.50 for a LEG OF LAMB!!

Guess I'll wait for lamb next year when I raise my own!

 

[Organics North]

Quote:

Wow for lamb...........................................!
That is insane.... Must raise one..

I am happy to share the recipe on the saurbraten.. It is easy just have to plan ahead with the marinading for two days.. Otherwise it is much less work than a traditional turkey with fixings..
Hmm Potato pancakes.Yum.... That would be good with it too... Our family always has done dumplings or spatzle noodles.

ON

 

[3riverschick]

nnnnnn

 

[Debbi]

Ggggood Mmmmorning All

Cold here in the hollow this morning at 16*! Kind of early in the season to be this cold, but hey, at least it's still and sunny. Getting up to 45* or so today, with milder temps tonight, so the chicklets, who are now dry and warmed up, can go back outside. Was nice to have my little alarm clock, "Roy", to wake me up this morning though!