Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Harris5]

Quote:
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

 

[flgardengirl]

I will wish you luck too

On the broody thing, I have speckled sussex and they haven't ever went broody yet. I have some silkies but not old enough to lay. I got them because someone told me they could hatch rocks lol. I get tired of incubating all the time and want a broody to do it. My silkies aren't mean to other chickens yet but the marans chicks I have them with especially the little copper slash roo is mean to them lol. I am going to have to separate them soon because alot of my silkies have very vaulted skulls.
I walked in the other day because I heard a ruckus and the naughty splash marans roo had a mouth full of silkie feathers and was sitting there trying to look all innocent, like "who me? I didn't do nuttin".

 

[Illia]

. . . . . I am on the verge of selling THIS turd.

Today, I found all three of my Wheaten/Blue Wheaten cockerels all muddy, scraggly, and wet - Plus, they had bloody combs. A couple scattered cockerels were making alarm sounds, and everyone looked either terrified or exhausted. I had no clue what happened, but was very worried. . . As I walked further into my bachelor pad, what did I see? Legs! Legs poking up from an upside down chicken!! I was SO upset, the darn Wheatens all teamed up and beat up my Black Ameraucana until he was upside down, exhausted, bloody, and absolutely matted in mud.

After I cleaned him up, checked him for wounds besides on his comb, and put him back out - The main Wheaten fought with him again. So, I threw him in the breeding pen to sulk alone, and so far, no issues. . .

I was an inch from crying when I saw my "defeated" Ameraucana.

 

[flgardengirl]

Ahhh the poor baby. I hate when they do that. I have had several roosters have to defect from their original bachelor pens due to bullying. There is always so much ROO DRAMA around here, it is never the hens, always the roos lol. I have one roo that sleeps in the bachelor pen but I let him out every day in the morning or they all pick on him. He gets to run around and freerange while the others have to stay locked up lol.
I had one roo fly over the fence into the adjacent roo bachelor pen to escape the evil turds in there and then the other ones picked on him. He had better hiding spots in the new pen so just gradually adjusted and now roosts with those birds with no more problems. Then I have the 2 buff orp boys who dh brought home with some pullets. They grew up together and now can't stand the sight of each other or any other roo. They are really horrible so now I have to keep them separated each to his own little pen, like they were Beta fish. One of them if he gets out of the pen, chases down our pomeranian and jumps on his back and tries to mate him as if he was a hen. The pomeranian is a buff color and about the right size soooo..... LOL!!
They are worse than kids, I tell ya lol.

 

[Illia]

I used to have an Araucana who I'd let sleep in the bachelor pad, then fly over the fence to free range before he gets bullied. Problem was, he eventually found out that Tolbunt Polish and laced Polish are beautiful! . . . So, no more free ranging for him.

And of course even now, I couldn't do that. I've got Shamos arriving tomorrow who will be free ranging eventually, and they're the biggest bully of all.

 

[flgardengirl]

Roosters are definitely high maintenance. I guess that's why the 'normal' chicken people only keep one lol. I have way way too many but I always find some way to justify most of them. Those buff orps are heading for the BBQ though. Last time one got out dh had to chase it down with his pier fishing net lol (big giant net with a long string, think of lasso-ing with a net) I told him he was a real hick now!

I guess you will be building some more pens?

 

[bikechick]

Illia

so sorry. I hate barn yard violence. Heck, with the whole "nature" thang.

Question, How important is it to keep the different "lines" apart? I'm putting eggs in the bator from the different lines of BCM breeders. Will I make more work for myself if I just merge them together. Or, should I just let them meld (sp?) together and start working on breeding out problems?
I remember mention WAY BACK on the forum about keeping lines seperate, but I don't remember nothin' right now. Too much genetic stuff I guess.

 

[flgardengirl]

"he eventually found out that Tolbunt Polish and laced Polish are beautiful! . . . So, no more free ranging for him"

just tried to picture a Tolbunt Polish with no butt and tufts

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Hi, I would keep the lines seperate until you hatch some from each line and see what you get. The main thing about keeping records and marking the chicks is you will know where any problem birds come from and culling will be much easier. Myself keeping lines seperate does not interest me as I believe in breeding the best to the best and do not really care where they come from. If you go back 5-6 generations there are very few lines anyway you look at it today. Basically all the lines have the same problems , only some are worse. Don

 

[bikechick]

Thanx Don,
I know it would be more work in the records dept. but knowing what traits are coming from whom (I hope that's correct grammar) should help in the breeding program.
I know there has been a little discussion on how peeps keep records but I would love to know more; spread sheets, notebook paper; software program? I'm desperate for any help in this department.