Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[math ace]

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I found my reference sheet and I guess I don't actually go into lockdown until tomorrow - - Day 19.
Bummer, oh well I went out first thing this morning and got the baskets so I am already. I am excited because I was hearing chirping in the cooler yesterday. . . .

Went to walmart and bought a $4 rubbermaid plastic tote with lid. I brought it home and used a saw to cut a door in the side of it.
This will be my temp laying nest / box. My EE pullet starting laying eggs within a few days of putting her in with the 8 week old chicks. She keeps flying out of the day pen to lay her eggs in a hole she dung by the lawnmower. Then she returns to the day pen and paces around it until somebody notices her and lets her in the day pen.

One crazy and determined EE. I discovered today that she has an infected eye. So, she is on terramycin ointment now. I had a problem with her mother getting an eye infection too. I think it is the EE eye fluff causing the issue. With momma, I trimmed the feathers away from her eye and did not have any more trouble. I guess her daughter will be getting a hair cut tonight too.

 

[math ace]

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That's the attitude! We should make it our motto . . ..

 

[chics in the sun]

Hi Math Ace!! Good luck on your hatch!! Keep us posted.

My Marans has very suddenly gone from laying an egg a day to none in the last three days. The area below her vent is bare, no feathers at all. Has anyone else had a Marans (or any other breed) do this? She is 10 months old, I believe. I felt around but do not feel an egg stuck in there. She is acting perectly normal, eating, drinking, foraging for bugs, terrorizing the smaller chickens. Should I be worried?

 

[math ace]

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They are all my own stock - - 6 Olive eggers and 14 BCMs.

The next hatching will be speckled sussex and delaware eggs. Then I should be done hatching for a while.
I am going to grow out all this stock and keep the best for the foundation of my breeding programs.

I still have to finish the first run addition. It rained yesterday - - ALL blasted day. I think I can finish the run in a couple of hours. Then, I will have two more runs to finish. Then Dh will need to build my coops.

I will be incorporating poop trays into the design this time. . . . .ANY SUGGESTIONS ??
I like to do a total bedding change every weekend. Poop duty becomes a punishment chore for naughty children OR an extra PAID chore for those who want to make some money. Needless to say, I don't normally have to do the actually cleaning.

Right now- - - we throw hay down on the ground and Ds pitch forks it into the compost pile every weekend. I want to new coops to have the poop issue addressed from outside the pen AND easy enough that a 13 year old can do . . . .

ANY ideas ? ? ?

 

[Wynette]

Good day, Marans friends!

I'm so excited watching my hatchlings, who will be 3 weeks tomorrow. More exciting than usual, as these are not my own. I swear, I looked at them before work yesterday, and then after work, several had sprouted huge, HONKIN' combs! Honly cannoli!

I have 15 (well, 16 including my little mutt I added to the hatch) and they are quickly outgrowing their stock tank brooder. I'll be moving them to the barn this weekend - I always love moving them out - they look like they have SOOOO much room! At least for awhile!

Also - remember that whenever you cross lines, there is a possibility of losing egg color. I learned the hard way a couple of years ago...thinking I was doing a good thing, bloodline diversity...(which I truly do still believe in). But, egg color suffered and it took a good while to recover. Just my two pennies there!

 

[math ace]

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check closely for lice - - - the bare area could indicate lice or mites. . .

 

[stickers]

Hi everyone I am still mostly lurking and learning! Just had to post my 1st eggs of the season. BCM in front and sussex in back.

 

[chics in the sun]

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check closely for lice - - - the bare area could indicate lice or mites. . .

Ooo! Didn't even think of that! I will check again. I looked at it yesterday, but I will look closer. It's weird none of the other 8 chickens have lost feathers. All are laying like the egg machines they are except for her.

Keep my posted and let me know if you have Speckled Sussex culls in a few months for myself and my friend's backyard flocks. They may also want a Delawares - I'll ask.

 

[math ace]

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EXCUSE ME - - BUT did you forget something Wynette ? ? ?

WHERE are the pictures ? ? ?

PINK - - you may need to explain the Rules to Wynette. She seems to forgot them!

 

[math ace]

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You got it - - I am still trying to locate good quality SS. .. . I thought I was onto something last night, but the flock was sold and the buyer disbursed it a couple of months ago