Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

I would highly recommend the stuffed animals in the pool set up for a broody cage. The chicks are playing hopping and jumping all over the stuffed animals. They poop on them - - -so get some used cheap ones at the thrift store

We took some chicken wire and wrapped it just inside of the pool walls. Now the pool has 3 foot high walls. I am hoping to get a couple of weeks out of the swimming pool before I have to move them outside. I want them feather up as much as possible. Our weather is fluctuating so much right now. Lows in the 30;s the last few days. Lows in the upper 50's by the end of this week

The marans just played a nice game of chase with the warning label they ripped of the side of the pool. The delawares just stood there and watched while the 13 marans ran around the pool like CRAZZY chicks ! The delawares are so much bigger than the marans at birth. I really would of expected them to be the same size - - but there is a clear difference.

 

[math ace]

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So where are the marans people today ? ? I think I entered the twilight zone

 

[math ace]

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Thanks Village Chicken. I was afraid you were gonna say that !
I have raised 20 plus chickens from chicks and never had a case of "Pasty butt".
It looks like most of the delawares are the guilty parties.
Maybe that is why they are so much bigger - - - cause they are full of poo poo!

They got their little hot tub soaks for their bums and are all fresh and clean now !

 

[snowbird]

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So where are the marans people today ? ? I think I entered the twilight zone

Lisa, just a small warning for you and your chicks. I would never put my chicks from the hatcher on to shavings. If the chicks eat very much of the fine shavings it will kill them real fast because they can not digest them.

 

[geebs]

pellets are good though. They don't smell.. I use the wood ones not the paper... too stinky... The pasty butt would be lack of hydration.. tend to quickly..

 

[math ace]

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What do you use ? ??

These guys seem to be eating food only. . . .

 

[math ace]

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Where do you get pellets at ? ? I've never seen them.

There is plenty of water out. . . . so IDK what is going on with them crazy white butt delawares. The majority of marans did not have any issues. Those that did were minor. The delawares had more of any issue. They seem to be FLUFFIER back there too

 

[snowbird]

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What do you use ? ??

These guys seem to be eating food only. . . .

I use Neomycin treated absorbant board from Cutler's supply. will send you a pm and explain how I do my chicks. Don

 

[Newyorkrita]

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Where do you get pellets at ? ? I've never seen them.

There is plenty of water out. . . . so IDK what is going on with them crazy white butt delawares. The majority of marans did not have any issues. Those that did were minor. The delawares had more of any issue. They seem to be FLUFFIER back there too

Get the Pelleted horse bedding sold at the feed stores. Doesn't need to be this brand but here is a website that shows all about it. I use it in my brooder setups, its awesome. The poops just dissapear into the bedding.

http://www.guardianhorsebedding.com/index.htm

 

[flgardengirl]

I use the shavings and put a layer of paper towels over them. I haven't lost any chicks that way. You can just change the paper towels every day or sooner if needed. If anything soaks into the shavings then you can change them. It usually takes the chicks about a week to find out they can dig at the sides and find shavings. By then they should know what their food is and not eat too much of it.