Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[lwarctic]

Quote:
Yep...sure thing! Your #14.

Thanks Jan!

Kim, Hope you haven't forgotten me on your list?

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Yep...sure thing! Your #14.

Thanks Jan!

Kim, Hope you haven't forgotten me on your list?

Absolutely not my friend! Your #6.

Happy New Year Les!

 

[Mountain Mel]

Pinkchick...seriously now...what is the best way to be "bio-safe" around someone elses flock? I have some uninsulated, 100% rubber boots that I was going to boil before coming to visit your birds. Will that be adequate to wear those with freshly laundered clothes? I must admit that I have never been "bio-conscious" in the past, as my birds have never exhibited any signs of illness or disease....so I've just never thought about it....

 

[Ivywoods]

Flgardengirl- Those eggs are FABULOUS! I get a few that dark from my BCM's, but they are nowhere near that uniform....and from solid blue marans. I am envious.

Gee....I wish I had more room... I'd be adding blue marans to my flock asap if I could!

One of my best BCM hens was pecked pretty bad a few weeks ago. She has healed up well, and while in isolation I discovered what a wonderful large, dark egg she lays. I would put her back in with the rest, but I am really afraid the others would kill her. I think I will wait and just put her in a new pen with whatever others I choose for breeders, and put them all in with the rooster at the same time. I'm hoping to get some really nice eggs out of that pen so I can hatchabatch to be about the same age as the 25 ameraucanas I will be getting from John Blehm around March 22.

Happy New Year to all!

 

[math ace]

So, I have been collecting eggs for the past week to set in my incubator for a second test batch. I sat them on the kitchen counter this afternoon and told Dd not to use them or break them. Dd proceeds to open the cabinet door and out falls a bottle of spice on an egg and breaks it.

So, we come back from a New Year's Eve party and candle the eggs. Checking the eggs carefully for cracks. Dh decides to turn all eggs point side down and BREAKS another egg because it slipped!

Makes you wonder sometimes . ..

Like the post office and the sign saying "fragile - - eggs" as they toss the box across the truck!

WHAT are these people thinking? ? ?

OK, I am done with my mini- rant. I put my eggs in the incubator on January 1, 2111! I am ready to see what the new year brings me and it had better not be a much of roos

 

[Mountain Mel]

Math Ace...you put your eggs in the incubator on Jan.1,2111? I'm no "Math Ace" but isn't that like a century from now?

 

[kathyinmo]

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I knew it. I just knew it! There really is such a thing as time travel, isn't there?

ETA:
By the way ..... Of the 12 eggs in the hatcher from Luanne (cpartist), I have 8 hatched, 2 pips, 2 nothing yet. Can you believe that? Shipped eggs!

I'm so excited! I have blues and blacks!

 

[pinkchick]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!


My first chick of 2011 is here.....it's name is Ano Nuevo! Hatched at 235am, I think it is a black, but not sure, hatched from Chloe one of the blue coppers girls egg crossed with Gnarles.....will have to wait just a little longer. One of the GFF pullet eggs and others are still burpin' and chirpin'!

Can't wait to plug in the Sportsman and take that baby for a spin to see how she handles. I'm getting so excited, it is being delivered today!

DH asked if I was going to try and fill the whole thing with eggs for the maiden voyage...then he asked "How many eggs does that hold anyway?"

...I responded with "300 dear"...I should have told him, "Yes..honey, I'm going to fill it."

Congratulations Kathy!!!!!!


Tannis~ Update....UPDATE!!!! How in the world can you be sleeping at a time like this?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[pinkchick]

Correction- I just took a little peak at Ano Nuevo.........................It's a BLUE NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!

 

[pinkchick]

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Hi Mel! Yes that is great! But no need to boil the boots, just bleach solution with a good scrub will do, making sure there isn't any remnants of dried stuff on them.

When I first started I was completely unaware of bio-security too, my most wonderful BYC family helped me out alot. It really is worth it in the long run, especially when we spend the $$ on them that we do.
The best way to be safe around someone else's flock is to not actually go around the other person's flock unless absolutely neccessary, but if we must, these are the things I try to do. I wear shoes that have never seen or even been near any of my coops or chicken poops or clean boots that I have scrubbed and disinfected with bleach, I wear clean clothes that have also not been in my coops. I take clean bleached transport cages or carriers to said individuals homes if I am picking up chickens (which has not happened for a very long time) I basically have a closed flock and usually only bring in new birds, chicks or hatching eggs from NPIP folks and always quarantine new birds away from my flocks for 30 days. If I get hatching eggs from someone that is not NPIP certified I also keep those babies quaratined after hatch for 30 days and if I hatch out my own eggs along with them, even my chicks that are hatched are quaratined away from my birds and flocks. Always wash your hands after handling birds before handling your birds and change your clothes before going in with your birds. I wash the tires on my truck too before going to someones home and also before I go home I swing by a car wash and wash my tires again. It seems like alot but is sooooooooo worth it, I would be crushed if I had to put down my entire flock or they got something that killed them all. I haven't had a bird die for unknown reasons since I started, I have had 4 hens that were egg bound that I have had to put down or have died but no diseases and the good lord willing and a little extra effort on my part, I hope it stays that way.

You can contact the WA. State Dept. of Agriculture and they will send you out tons of great info in a packet along with a really cool chicken calendar with WA. State chicken owners who have submitted their birdies for the calendar photos. I can give you some of the extra booklets and paperwork that I have when you come up.

Hope this helps and I know many more great BYC'er will share their practices and experiences as well. This BYC place kinda rocks bigtime!