Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ellymayRans]

haha yeah, I have that problem too. Most of my birds love it, but some of them, like the bantams have a bit harder time with the leaves, so just wondering if people try other stuff. 

Mine won't touch any greens I throw out! They free range and eat right out out of the garden, so I have piles of greens that just sit!

 

[pinkchick]

Mine won't touch any greens I throw out! They free range and eat right out out of the garden, so I have piles of greens that just sit!

Silly birds! Sometimes they just don't know what is good for them.


Don't let those greens go to waste....toss them in the composter if you have one or toss them out to the wild birds. The Stellar Jays and Robins will eat anything I toss out that my chickens might leave behind. From time to time I also see the Chickadees out there joining in on the free food.

 

[Runawaylobster]

My neighbor eats them too

you mean the predators right? LOL!

 

[gilavina]

Silly birds! Sometimes they just don't know what is good for them.


Don't let those greens go to waste....toss them in the composter if you have one or toss them out to the wild birds. The Stellar Jays and Robins will eat anything I toss out that my chickens might leave behind. From time to time I also see the Chickadees out there joining in on the free food.

agreed, just don't put brassica family materials in the composter as they spread disease easily when they decompose

 

[Runawaylobster]

I have 2 squirrels giving me a headache right now! Cute as they are.....I can't stand them anymore! I can't shoot them because where they hang out is facing the neighbors house, so I tried a live trap and only caught my cat. Guess I shouldn't have used catfood as bait.
The squirrels are trying everything they can to find ways into the coops while they are locked up tight but with no luck. However, they know the chickens and geese are going to be let out for the day and they know the coop pop door will be open...it's a free for all with those rodents and they are making me CRAZY!
My neighbor also wants to know when if I catch them so he can eat them. I told him since he did such a nice job taking care of the bobcat, he could catch my squirrels. He laughed and said, "Nope, that's the hard part, but once you've got 'em give me a holler."

Now the chickens do not pay the squirrels any attention, but my gander, though he is not fast, he will certainly give them an earful and a quick chase.

you know that's really interesting, must be that down here the squirrels are not winter hungry because they have no interest in the chicken food... but come May/June when my lychee harvest is going on those darn little xixixi!!! try to eat all my lychees...

 

[pinkchick]

you mean the predators right? LOL!

 

[pinkchick]

you know that's really interesting, must be that down here the squirrels are not winter hungry because they have no interest in the chicken food... but come May/June when my lychee harvest is going on those darn little xixixi!!!   try to eat all my lychees...

We don't have horribly cold winters so they are out all year round here. At first they were living in an old cedar stump on the opposite side of our property, then slowly made their way to the goat barn and now have made their way to the coops. I think they are moving in closer because another neighbor logged his property completely and I believe he displaced alot of animals in the interim as I am seeing more and more bird activity and not just squirrels. We are seeing more species of birds that we haven't seen over the last 10 years coming around.

 

[ellymayRans]

Silly birds! Sometimes they just don't know what is good for them.


Don't let those greens go to waste....toss them in the composter if you have one or toss them out to the wild birds. The Stellar Jays and Robins will eat anything I toss out that my chickens might leave behind. From time to time I also see the Chickadees out there joining in on the free food.

They don't have a run so whatever they don't eat is there for the taking!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I don't know what predators he would eat, but I think he will eat anything.... Coons, possum, beaver, deer, robins, snakes if given a chance.........

 

[ashandvine]

I won't eat a snake out respect but if I was hungry... sure. Bugs on the other hand... heck yeah.

Desertmarcy- its nice to see you in here and Zanna and DM... thanks for the pep. I do know I could breed more it was just amazing to see how many birds folks are keeping at one time. I can't afford that either. Fun... hobby or business? I like to think this is a little of both and mostly a way of life. I liked the barrels too but I worried about heat and humidity here. And you can't keep more than one or two in there anyway. Maybe to grow out a few at a time?? IDK.

I feel better seeing the eggs snowbird has going. Mine are about the same so now I don't feel so sullen about their lack of deep color. I will work on it though. Hoping to get my hands on a Marquesilla cockerel. He 'should' pass on the nice dark gene to his offspring.

How often would folks recommend 'testing' fertility? There isn't anything other than breaking the eggs to 'check' is there? Hate to think I wasted one when I find it.