Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ginasmarans]

Quote:
Depends on what your purpose is. I have both clean and feather(my avatar is a clean shank). The clean will not be included in the standard,but many people want the clean shank. I probably get more requests for clean shank because most people are not planning to show or sell. I'm probably going to list my eggs for sale in March.

 

[Mountain Mel]

Quote:
Ivy, I let my hens free range here but defintely had to fence in my garden.....they would have had a FIELD DAY in there! You may want to strongly consider same, not that I'm tellin you what to do.....but if you want ANY Tomatoes

Risa

Grow your tomatoes in one of those upside-down hanging tomato growing contraptions. I used a couple last year & they worked great but you must water them every day.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I have cracked one egg in each hatch so far. . .

The first time I used melted candle wax and the second time I used super glue. In both cases the chick developed, but did not hatch.

THIS time I am using a small piece of masking tape.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I fenced my garden off TODAY. . . . The crazy feathered things ate all my FALL transplants the day after I planted them

NEXT YEAR - - - I am planting rye grass every where as soon as it starts cooling off. . . .

The girls have discovered the leaves at the tree line and make a bee line there every chance they get. They would scratch all day in the leaves if I would let them.

 

[sewandgrow]

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Tomato plants bring tomato worms (horned worms) & my chickies do LLLLLLLLLove those horn worms....LOL

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Tomato plants bring tomato worms (horned worms) & my chickies do LLLLLLLLLove those horn worms....LOL

Haha...I might have to try that if I find any this year. Never did come across any last year, just dreaded, dreaded squash bugs, but my girls won't touch those. I had read somewhere tho that guineas will eat the baby squash bugs. I am thinking I'll have to track some down to give it a try. I wonder how my girls would react to having them wandering around?

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Hey, guys!

I thought I'd post some pics of the Black Copper Marans I got from Wynette back in October. I'm not interested in breeding at the moment, so I'm not requesting critiques, etc., although you're welcome to comment if you want -- I just won't be using the info to make culling decisions or anything like that. These guys are pets for our crazy little hobby farm.

Enjoy!

 

[Tala]

I managed to hatch out a pure BCM chick last night

I have an EE roo and a BCM roo in with the ladies, so it was up in the air who would be the daddy.

It's the one on the left here, and she has REALLY feathered legs

Both mom and dad have feathered legs soooo......
the half BCM (on the right) only has about 2 feathers per leg

Just cross yer fingers it's a girl

 

[VillageChicken]

On the topic of gardening for the chickens: Anyone planted comfrey for feed? It's apparently a very good source of protein and other nutrients.
I know there are some toxicity warnings for the roots, but I've heard of folks who feed greens regularly and see no liver damage upon processing.
It's a perennial and very low maintenance. I'd not heard of it until I started researching the whole chicken garden thing.

It might just be a UK thing. It's a native herb there.

 

[Mountain Mel]

Good Morning, Folks!
It must be a full moon out, 'cause boy is it bright! Did anyone notice the aurora borealis this morning?