Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[BevDavis]

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Hi

They are protected but if they are attacking your flock you can get rid of them if you can catch them. We have relocated a couple in the past but this one is a clever one. We have had a lot of predator problems this year for some reason. It's been a strange year all round in many ways.

Bev

 

[Soaring Chicks]

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Thank you. The blueish looking eggs got washed out in color. They are Olive green to blue. I don't know what is up with her. She can't pick a color. Her first egg was real dark Olive green the last few have more blueish color. Then she goes back to green!? I hope to get bigger and darker eggs from my blues and my blk. My splash have not started to lay yet with in a month they should be. The go back to Black Copper Marans. So egg color should be great. The breeder I got them from has done a get job. I hope to get pullets to got with the blue copper that was sold as a girl( was 3wks) so kinda hard to tell then, but of course is a boy getting copper on his back and tring to crow. So now I need Blue Copper girls and Black Copper girls to go with my 2 boys now. If my cuckoos don't get better then they are shipping out to make room for the 2 other colors of Marans I found myself with. I got my Blk. at a swap he was thier last Maran and I had gotten the blue copper(girl) already so I got the blk for free just so they did not have to take him home thinking I had a blue copper girl for him.

Hubby not so happy but I'm not giving them up just add more! I just have to think on when I should get them now or wait it out till spring.

Also thanks to everyone else that looked at them. Makes me that much more happier with them.

 

[cpartist]

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I'm sorry, but that is just toooo funny!

If you knew how frustrating it was - - - you would not laugh. Stupid Fox - - -I can not use really good organic fertilizes during the growing season because of it. I can only do it at the initial set up. Otherwise, he digs up everything I have growing looking for the source of the smell. He truly believes if he digs enough - - - he will find the rotting fish or dead animal that I buried in my garden - NOT. It has been that way for 2 years now. During the growing season I use cottonseed meal - - - the fox doesn't seem to mind that one !

Math Ace, off (Marans) topic...besides cottonseed meal, you may want to try alfalfa pellets or meal. It's N-P-K is only 3-2-3 or so, but it contains a lot of trace minerals, and trianconatol, a natural fatty-acid growth stimulant.
The ratio is just about perfect for my soil (N Florida as well). I use it on my St. Augustine lawn and it's lush and disease free. It's perfect as is for vegetables such as carrots and beans which don't need huge amounts of nitrogen.
For heavy feeders like corn, I just add soybean or cottonseed meal. I mainly use cottonseed meal on azaleas, camellias, and blueberries as it has a lower PH. Corn Meal has Trichoderma, proven by Cornell to fight fungus in the soil and I've been using it to successfully combat fungal diseases such as Gray Leaf Spot in the lawn. I learned a long time ago to buy my "fertilizers" at the feed store, cheaper and more effective, IMO.

While we've seen a fox or two near us, haven't had them find the chickens or gardens yet. Thankfully, as I sprinkle blood meal to keep the rabbits from eating my bean seedlings. They are vegetarians and are turned off by the smell.

Bev, so sorry to hear of your Bobcat problems. We had one here almost 30 years ago, and partly because of this, gave up on chickens until last year. We are fairly close to you, near Alachua, and if you need help with your fencing, DH and I would be happy to come down and help. We are not "spring chickens" but are used to putting up fencing and working in the heat....and it would be a pleasure to meet you.

 

[berkeleysprings]

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[BevDavis]

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If you knew how frustrating it was - - - you would not laugh. Stupid Fox - - -I can not use really good organic fertilizes during the growing season because of it. I can only do it at the initial set up. Otherwise, he digs up everything I have growing looking for the source of the smell. He truly believes if he digs enough - - - he will find the rotting fish or dead animal that I buried in my garden - NOT. It has been that way for 2 years now. During the growing season I use cottonseed meal - - - the fox doesn't seem to mind that one !

Math Ace, off (Marans) topic...besides cottonseed meal, you may want to try alfalfa pellets or meal. It's N-P-K is only 3-2-3 or so, but it contains a lot of trace minerals, and trianconatol, a natural fatty-acid growth stimulant.
The ratio is just about perfect for my soil (N Florida as well). I use it on my St. Augustine lawn and it's lush and disease free. It's perfect as is for vegetables such as carrots and beans which don't need huge amounts of nitrogen.
For heavy feeders like corn, I just add soybean or cottonseed meal. I mainly use cottonseed meal on azaleas, camellias, and blueberries as it has a lower PH. Corn Meal has Trichoderma, proven by Cornell to fight fungus in the soil and I've been using it to successfully combat fungal diseases such as Gray Leaf Spot in the lawn. I learned a long time ago to buy my "fertilizers" at the feed store, cheaper and more effective, IMO.

While we've seen a fox or two near us, haven't had them find the chickens or gardens yet. Thankfully, as I sprinkle blood meal to keep the rabbits from eating my bean seedlings. They are vegetarians and are turned off by the smell.

Bev, so sorry to hear of your Bobcat problems. We had one here almost 30 years ago, and partly because of this, gave up on chickens until last year. We are fairly close to you, near Alachua, and if you need help with your fencing, DH and I would be happy to come down and help. We are not "spring chickens" but are used to putting up fencing and working in the heat....and it would be a pleasure to meet you.

Hi

Thanks for the offer of help. If this fence doesn't help I'll be getting some electic fencing. At least I have learnt to have chicken pens all in one place.

Bev

 

[math ace]

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No Offense taken - - - - The fox isn't the wild eyed one - - - I am!

We laugh and cuss at the same time about that crazy fox.
It is funny as long as you aren't the one watching you garden get dug up.

 

[math ace]

cpartist - - thanks for the wonderful advice. I'll look into the alflafa.
I've had issues with my dirt running high on ph - - -
so the cottonseed meal works good for me.

Debbi - - if the fox bothered my garden all the time - - I would hot wire it.
Some folks around here do that laready because of the deer.
However, as long as I avoid really smelly fertilizers - - the fox leaves my garden alone.


Bev - - When you finally get that Bob Cat issue resolved - - -
would you mind posting a picture of your chicken coop set-up ? ?

 

[Organics North]

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Sorry off topic...But I will second the use of alfalfa pellets or meal in the garden!
ON

 

[cracked_egg]

Ok, I bought 5 BCM from a local breeder... 1 is a roo (great luck right?) And 4 are pullets. They are about 10 weeks? Maybe 12? Anyway, the one pullet has a lot of copper in her neck, the other 3 are basically all black... The roo is about all black with a nice green sheen... My question is, will he get more color as he matures or is his black/copper way out of balance? I will try to get some pics of them to post and see what you guys think . I've spent more time learning wyandottes than. Marans and I want to learn more as right now the marans are the only breeder birds I have until I get wyandottes in... (Rest are hatchery)

 

[snowbird]

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I would be inclined to give them a little time to grow and then see what the color is and the male should feather slowly.