Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Lisa ~ My coop is inside of my run. It has 1/2" hardware cloth four feet up, overlapped to the top (6' tall) with four foot 2x4 welded wire. On the ground surrounding the run is a two foot apron of wire, covered in chat gravel, held in place by landscape timbers. The top of the run is enclosed with 2x4" welded wire. I also had electric fencing around the run in two strands, at 6" and at 37", until my solar powered charger went out!

If a critter gets past the run, they will then have to try to get into the secure coop, both doors solidly locked, window closed and locked (5' off the ground), and NO holes. Will be fixing the fence charger come spring unless I see any signs of predator digging before that time. I still am worried at night, but the dogs are good at alerting to any noises outside, and the shotgun is ready!

 

[Kenshan1]

Quote:
I'm new to chickens as of Aug. Mine are starting to lay, my Marans are the best layers so far. We have snow on the ground still, about an inch that won't melt. 5 out of 13 will venture out in the snow. So far each chicken that is laying goes to the nests, different times of the day. I open the door around 8am. I also only open when I'm going to be home. So far I haven't had issues with it being dark & the chickens still out, they put themselves away in the coop.

Shannon

 

[Kenshan1]

Quote:
I'm new to chickens as of Aug. Mine are starting to lay, my Marans are the best layers so far. We have snow on the ground still, about an inch that won't melt. 5 out of 13 will venture out in the snow. So far each chicken that is laying goes to the nests, different times of the day. I open the door around 8am. I also only open when I'm going to be home. So far I haven't had issues with it being dark & the chickens still out, they put themselves away in the coop. I just have to remember to close the door, don't need anything not a chicken in there. My inclosed roost with light & nest boxes are up high. They have a little door on that, that is always open. The lower area is their run that has their food & water. What I mean by open the door is out to our grassy yard. Its not as safe as their coop but they enjoy the grassy treats.

Shannon

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Cute little fuzzy butts! What a nice surprise to come home to!!

 

[flgardengirl]

My run is pretty secure but I still am paranoid. It could use better roofing etc. I should probably hook up some electric fencing. I also have the coops either inside the run or with the front part where the door is inside the run. Our coop is really secure. Pretty certain that the only two things that could get in there are a bear or a person. No itty bitty doors here lol. We have security lights and a dog who will bark her head off out there too when things move around at night. I would like to get a great pyrenees. The lady at the chicken rescue had one. They have birds freeranging day and night out there ..it is way more rural than here... and the dogs protect them. I loved that dog it looked like a huge polar bear lol and sooo sweet. I wish I could of put her in my car along with the chickens but I took my little firebird and she wouldn't have fit LOL!

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
Cute little fuzzy butts! What a nice surprise to come home to!!

I love how the mamas look at thier babies. Cute pic!!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
If you get one, make sure they are from stock that is used to chickens, and that it is a pup, and raised with the stock they are to protect. I've seen too many Pyrs guard sheep and goats well, yet tear the chicken/duck/ goose flocks to shreds!! They will only guard what they have been raised with, and even then, some are still not reliable.

AND.. I would still lock up the chickens to protect from predators and the dog at night!

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
If you get one, make sure they are from stock that is used to chickens, and that it is a pup, and raised with the stock they are to protect. I've seen too many Pyrs guard sheep and goats well, yet tear the chicken/duck/ goose flocks to shreds!! They will only guard what they have been raised with, and even then, some are still not reliable.

Good advice

I have heard that some people will raise thier pups with the chickens having them sleep in the coop with them. Our two dogs, a pomeranian and a lab let the chickens walk all over them..literally. Well except when the buff orp boys get rowdy and try to mate the pomeranian LOL! He takes offense to that.

 

[Debbi]

Poor Pom!

 

[flgardengirl]

The buff orp boys..tweedle dee and tweedle dumb (dh brought them home with 3 pullets), will mate anything that looks orange/buff colored. We have an orange tabby cat that goes running anytime they come around. They totally ignore the other two cats that are a pure black and a calico. They also ignore the lab who is black and the nieghbor's little black terrier.