Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

ONE HAS HATCHED!! Either a dark blue copper or BCM, can't tell till it dries off!

 

[gilavina]

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Such great news Debbi! I'm loving your excitement!

 

[Debbi]

Ha! I know folks probably get sick of my "enthusiasm" but at 57, I had never seen a chick hatch before, despite all of my animal births throughout the years. There's just something about these little guys that fascinates me; the whole struggle makes me a real cheerleader for them!

I believe as this one dries, it will be a blue copper!! Now...if it would just be a pullet??

Pink, girl, did I tell you that I wanted 12 pullets and 2 cockerels??

WOW! I guess no one told that big egg that they couldn't hatch from the small end of the shell?? It's starting to zip now! Another one of the pippers is getting busy too!

 

[gilavina]

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Awwww!!! This is an extra special hatch for you then!

And a blue as a first baby too! yay!
I'll tell you a secret....the excitement and joy over a new set of eggs ready to hatch has never worn off for me....

Maybe I'm weird, but I am in awe every single time

I love your updates, keep'em coming!

 

[Debbi]

Well, as giddy as I am, this is not my first hatch, just the first year I ever tried hatching. My best hatch ever has been 5 chicks out of 12, thanks to Tannis! Those big turkies are so sweet! I'm going to have to get some updated pics of the "dark boys". They are now 6+ months old and huge, gentle giants! The two girls are also sweet, and if I get up next to them when they are perched, I can hold out my arm, and they step up like a macaw!

My first hatch was 8+ months ago, with the infamous, poor old Fuglee roo, and his 3 girls. They are laying some nice eggies, may have to send some off to an egg show, just because of the size and consistent color. Not the darkest eggs, but the pretty ruby colored 6+ type, and ex-large size. Two of those girls give me the rubies, and one gives me a speckled, matte type egg. So, I've only been in this game for about a year, and had never hatched eggs before this. Always wanted to, but life got in the way. Now that I have the time, this has become a real treat. Pip also got a nice psychology lesson tonight, with a peaceful outcome. Just got to be smarter than the chicken! Lordy, my neighbors must think I'm nuts!

 

[gilavina]

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Hahaha...oh yeah? what did you do in your psychology lesson for this evening?

 

[Debbi]

It was a quite simple lesson for Mr. Bad Arse Pip. He has lately decided, that HE would be the last one in the coop at night, even if asked by me to go in. Fine..you want to stay out?? I left him out in the run, locked the pop door so he had no choice but to be outside. I waited until it was almost dark. I sat on the deck and watched it all play out, and he KNEW I was there watching him. He started getting very nervous about the dark, and was standing by the pop door. I finally walked out there, he ran around the coop, and I said "coop". He shot in there like a bullet!

We'll see tomorrow night if he remembers this event. Eventually, it will sink into his chicken brain, and the alpha will be recognized.

 

[gilavina]

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hahah fantastic!

simple and to the point! Hope the lessons keep going well!

 

[gilavina]

Oh yeah Debbi, I did some checking for you about a show in Springfield, MO...I guess there used to be one, and now in Sedalia they have a double show. I'm not 100% sure, but its possible they put the show together now in Sedalia. Doh! I couldn't find anything else about any other shows going on there in MO that would be close to your area...

 

[jlgoinggreen]

OK, I think I need help.....

I have five chicks hatched and I believe two or three pipped. I've been trying to keep myself busy and not sit and stare at the bator, so have not checked it in a while. I just looked in to see if any of the pipped eggs hatched out yet and noticed my temp went from 100 degrees to 97 degrees. Is this bad? What should I do? I have a Brinsea Eco 20 and it has always kept perfect temps. I'm not sure what's going on. Is this normal? Is the temp supposed to go down as the chicks hatch and fluff up?