Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Ivywoods]

Oops. Didn't see the link. Maybe I can put one on my Christmas list. I'll see if Santa is in a good mood.....

 

[Wynette]

Ivy, well, they're not cheap. But, they do work GREAT. I highly recommend them. I've been using them for 3 years now without issue, adn they've made some really nice upgrades to them!

 

[Ivywoods]

Thanks, Wynette. I will certainly see about doing that. I'm pretty sure I looked at them before, but I thought the filling from the bottom would be messy and cumbersome. Is it a problem? I wil be using it inside the coop during the winter, of course, and I didn't want to get water all over the floor (I'm not a clutz, but sometimes water doesn't go exactly where I think it will!)

Actually, the price isn't too bad, especially if it works well.

I'm done outside for the day. I think it is getting colder. I got tools put away that I used to build the coop, and chicken stuff hauled from the shop to the storage area of the coop. It will be so much nicer. I wanted to get some work done outside on the runs, but the cold and wind is not pleasant, so I think I will wait for a better day for that. It is my intention to set up my breeder pens using some used panels that came from a dog kennel. The pens will be 10' x 10' and I will build a small house for each one for shelter. I like building stuff like that.

I already have a chicken tractor that is 4' x 8' that I made this summer out of salvaged material after our big windstorm. The top is made from a trampoline tarp that was ruined in the storm. It is a great little tractor during the milder months, but during the winter I have moved my bantems into the barn.

With the additional birds I will be getting this spring, I will have enough to keep me busy for a while.

 

[berkeleysprings]

you might know this already about the heated dog dish ,,,, but if u take and put one of those 1 gallon plastic warter in side the dog dish it will hold all the dish will hold plus a extre gallon and it wont freexe in plastic wareter



Quote:
AHA! I thought so! Guess I can say, "I told you so."

My girls got a nice, new heated water bowl. I'm going to set it on a block, inside a wooden box with a slanted top so they can't step up on it to tip it over, poop in it, or roost over it. I just felt like they weren't getting enough water with as fast as things were freezing up around here.

 

[Ivywoods]

Quote:
AHA! I thought so! Guess I can say, "I told you so."

My girls got a nice, new heated water bowl. I'm going to set it on a block, inside a wooden box with a slanted top so they can't step up on it to tip it over, poop in it, or roost over it. I just felt like they weren't getting enough water with as fast as things were freezing up around here.


That's an idea. I think this dish is big enough to accommodate all the hens I have in there right now, but it might be a bigger issue next year, especially if I don't get one of those bigger heated poultry waterers by then.

 

[bock]

I am so exited! I just searched on CL and there are 2 people selling chicks! One person wants $18 per chick, but she does have Bev Davis and Wade Jeane lines and has won several 1st place awards for her eggs at the county fair. The other person has them for $4 a chick, but she does not specify what lines they are. However, she does have a picture of their eggs and they look pretty impressive. They are straight run though. I want them so bad!!! Maybe Santa Clause would be interested in giving me a basket of chicks this year!

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
I am a romantic...a dreamer.... Yep most routes would lead to mutts.... But what if..............(See the dreamer part:/...

)

We got the word out, any time a "sport Marans" hens or roos with smaller combs, were sent to/purchased by people in the project... We just take it slow many people just working on selecting for a smaller comb for some years..
Maybe the folks in Quebec could pitch in...

We will create the French Canadian Marans....

ON

 

[HenThymes]

Hi, don't know if this will help

but there is a thread for inexpensive do it yourself water heaters: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=107951

 

[Debbi]

Just ate my first Marans eggs today!! Deeeeeeeeeelicious!! That big jumbo egg was a double-yolker! I've got two pullets laying now, and received three eggs this week.

 

[geebs]

Did it taste like chicken.. he he