Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ladycat]

Here is what a breeder told me:
Quote:
So for any serious breeding of whites, I guess you would want to make sure they have the silver gene?

I suppose they would have to be test mated with silver or gold colored birds to see which gene they carry.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Here is what a breeder told me:

So for any serious breeding of whites, I guess you would want to make sure they have the silver gene?

I suppose they would have to be test mated with silver or gold colored birds to see which gene they carry.

Being from BCM, I'm guessing gold. They are snow white until recently with hot dry days (104 right now). We only plan to use the pullets for single comb olive eggers with an Isbar cockerel.

 

[forgetful]

Started on a new pen/brooder today. It will be four pens on top, with one large pen on the bottom. That's where I plan to grow out my ten black coppers. It's 12x3x6, and should last quite a while.

 

[French Hen]

That's awesome @forgetful. I have yet to build a grow out pen but need to. What will you line the top four pens with to prevent them from pooping on the bottom larger pens? Will you enclose the whole thing in with hardware cloth?
You're going out 10 in there how will you divide them up? Or will you keep them all together?

 

[Rhandi74]

Updated pics of some of my chicks.

[IMG

These are pics of the two oddballs that hatched.
ALT=""]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6487077/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

 

[forgetful]

That's awesome @forgetful . I have yet to build a grow out pen but need to. What will you line the top four pens with to prevent them from pooping on the bottom larger pens? Will you enclose the whole thing in with hardware cloth?
You're going out 10 in there how will you divide them up? Or will you keep them all together?

Thanks! Yes, the whole thing will be hardware cloth, with a smaller gauge on the bottom. I'm letting all ten grow out in the bottom, and they will all be together. They will be moved around three months old, I think. I've yet to decide. However, if I wanted, it wouldn't be anything to build a removable divider down the center for potential separation.

As for the poop issue, I did some research before settling on the design. I've seen several people with pens stacked on top of one another, even with bottom pens the same size, who have not had issues with poop covered birds. It seems with two moving birds, it's unlikely they will line up just so to allow for poop to make contact. If it does happen it's very rare. For the time being I won't try a liner or tray, but if it seems my birds on the bottom are getting very dirty I'll figure something out. In addition to that, at least one top pen will be empty for a few weeks, so if I see them all hiding out under that one, I'll know there is an issue. What I am considering right now, if it doesn't work out, is lowering the top of the bottom cage a few inches and adding catch trays. Once these birds are grown out I plan on putting a trio of bantams in the bottom cage, so poop contact should be even less likely with all the room they have to roam.

 

[Nana Ton-Ton]

Suggestions for incubating Maran eggs. I have 13 Black Cooper eggs in my incubator setting at 99 degrees. Looking for suggestions on a successful hatch.
I have only used the incubator a couple times many years ago.

Thanks & Blessings
Tonya

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Suggestions for incubating Maran eggs. I have 13 Black Cooper eggs in my incubator setting at 99 degrees. Looking for suggestions on a successful hatch.
I have only used the incubator a couple times many years ago.

Thanks & Blessings
Tonya

It really depends on your incubator as well as elevation, location, ambient temp and humidity, etc. We are in the NW corner of Oregon and do well with a dry hatch (no water at all) until lockdown, when we go to 75% RH. This is in a cabinet incubator with forced air and automatic turning.

 

[French Hen]

Any guesses on sex? I really hope it is a pullet. Gold cuckoo Marans and the chick is sweet but flighty.
She/he is about 5 weeks old

Edited to correct color/pattern

 

[ladycat]

Gold laced Marans and the chick is sweet but flighty.
She/he is about 5 weeks old

Uhhh... there's no such thing as Gold Laced Marans?