Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. WoW! What a night!

It's over and everyone walked away ALIVE!!!! Thank goodness! It ended late last night after a barrage of gun fire that must have went on for 30+ minutes. We did finally find out it was not or very beloved neighbor, but a man that our neighbor rents a piece of his property to down on the river. The renter just went off the deep end, but the deep end happened to be at my neighbors house where the renter took hostages. I wish that when the authorities had initially came to tell us what was going on and put us on lockdown that they would have told us the truth and not left us sitting here thinking the entire time it was our dear neighbor. WoW! That was one hairy situation that I NEVER want to see again, let alone be next door whilst it is happening. I still don't think that my brain has fully wrapped itself around what really happened. Our most wonderful neighbor and his family are doing well. Thank you all again.


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This hen is 2 years old. The day before she was out eating scratching and playing with everyone else, though I did notice that she put herself to bed pretty early that evening and she didn't go out and get any treats that I always toss for them just before bedtime to get them to go in the coop. I did pet her while she was on the perch and she was acting normal.

Egg bound- I noticed yesterday morning when I went out to feed and water that she was standing all hunched up in her nest box. Hunched up like when they stand up and push just before they lay their egg. At first glance I knew she wasn't laying an egg but rather she wasn't feeling well, I could see it in her face. She was kinda puffed up in the feathers and at one point tucked her head behind her wing and just stood there all hunched and would not move. After I watched her for about 10 minutes I knew she egg bound. I gently took her out of the nest box and felt her tummy. I could feel the egg there and she seemed to relax just a bit as I was very gently running my hand around. She is not in her coop with anyone she is in the extra brooder not being used in a nice heated chicken trailer that I found on craigslist for FREE that I gutted then revamped and turned into a grow out pen with run, 2 big brooders and storage for all of my feed and sundries. I have not been able to check on her since last night just after my last post. I am headed out there just as soon as it is light enough to see. Kimmee can't see in the dark......not one little bit.
 
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Pink~ I'm sooo glad everything turned out well for the neighbors! Think I'd be a bit ticked off at the SWAT team for letting you believe it was your neighbor doing the shooting. Maybe, in all the commotion they didn't really know who it was? So glad you are all safe. Now, we will await news on your hen, hope that turns out well too!
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Welcome Kenneth!!!!

Yes there is truth to the fact that blues and splash canand do tend to lay a lighter egg than the BCM, but there are some blues out there that lay a VERY NICE EGG! I believe the egg color can be influenced by using a BCM and also using the BCM will help keep the lacing crisp and clear in the blues. When mating blue to blue or blue to splash you tend to get the lighter or lightest shades of blue and this is where you can loose lacing and crispness in the feathers.

Strapped for time this morning due to all of yesterdays events and still have tools to load up for today. Will have to catch up and explain more for you at a later time, so sorry for the short version as it may not make sense.

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Good morning, all! Sorry I've not been around for a few days...just been uber, uber swamped!

Pink - wow, what an eventful evening you had. Glad it all worked out. ANd how is your eggbound girl today?? If you're still doing the soaks, I have been told that Epsom Salts is good to add to the soak(?) I've never done it, so not sure... I hope she's better!

The Point - Tannis, your boys are lovely! I agree w/what the others say on here. #6 is my first choice, but I do like the last one with the white underfeathers...but, a no-no to breed off that, IMO. Some folks do, but gosh, he's got a gorgeous conformation. Tough choices! I'm glad you're pleased with them! I've made many changes in the breed pen since you go those hatching eggs from me...it's ALWAYS good to see your stock growing up - helps us to know that the choices we're making (and have made in the past) are the right ones! Thanks for posting pics.
 
My newly hatched chicks are doing well. One of the two that I helped hatch on Day 24 is VERY BLUE.
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She / he was very weak at birth - - - that was the day we lost power for over 6 hours. She is getting stronger every day
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There should be no problems with the blue or the other chick that hatched at the same time surviving.

So, every one is now is 2 - 5 days old. I am ready to start doing inspections and taking notes and photos. . . . In the excitment of it all, I threw away the eggs that they hatched from ! Other than feathered feet, what should I be looking for ? ?
 
Most of the chicks seem to have poop stuck to their rumps. I have never had an issue with this before. Should I be washing their bottoms or just leave it alone ? ? ( I am seriously hoping the answer is leave it alone
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If it's dried on and potentially plugging up their vent, you gotta wash it off, or they could get sick and even die because they can't poop. It just builds up and gets worse. I used a warm stream of water (yes at the kitchen sink) and gently wiped away the poop and then gently dried off their bums with a soft tissue. I've read that their vent can be very easily damaged at this stage... but some say just pull off the dried poop and yank the feathers out! After waiting 21+ days and crossing fingers at each pip, I don't think so!!

Anyway, some of the chronic poopie bums, I trim the fluff back a bit.

I also read on a thread here that a sprinkling of oatmeal on their starter absorbs extra moisture and helps them poop more cleanly. I didn't try it though. Eventually it clears up with most chicks. I have one who is almost 3 weeks, and his still is dirty (but not plugged), but I don't clean it any more. He's a big boy and can reach back there himself if it's bugging him.
 
Hello wondering if anyone had some really dark FBCM eggs for sale preferably a dozen or so. Or 12-14 chicks with some possiblilties for roos
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that come from really dark eggs. Just PM with a minimum order. I can do paypal. Thank you so much.
 

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