Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Hey all...just checking in quick...its been a busy start to the spring season for me. Lots of chaos and lots of rearranging pens and building the garden and etc. On that 'who has the most cockerels hatch bet' I'm NOT winning on this last batch. I have 11 cockerels and 10 pullets! I'm stoked! I also have two more small batches that I'm watching for on cockerels and pullets and have some eggs hatching soon...hopefully over the weekend. Lots of very exciting prospects in this batch. I'm kind of beside myself a bit

 

[math ace]

Quote:
So, what do I get when I win the "highest percentage of cockerels hatched in 2011" award ? ?

 

[math ace]

I have a question for those of you with marans old enough to lay eggs - - -

1.) Does the egg color fade in the laying cycle or hold pretty constant?

2.) If it fades - - - describe how much? i.e. from a six to a four, from a seven to a six, etc.

3.) When you decide which eggs to set - - do you look at the starting color,
the average color or the lightest color in the laying cycle ?

4.) If it fades - - what line is it orignally from ?

THANKS for answering these questions. . . . I need some your input on this, so please respond even if you can not do it right now.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
So, what do I get when I win the "highest percentage of cockerels hatched in 2011" award ? ?

hmmmm.....um....a hug?

I'm thinking we should see what others suggest for a prize....if it were me I'd say a big box of pullets haha

 

[Hens and Roos]

As promised earlier today here are some pictures of the eggs we received today from Pink! The box was in excellant shape and my P. O. called to let me know it had arrived. When I arrived at the post office I heard chicks peeping and thought did Pink send me chicks instead(maybe the ones ment for Mel

)! Went home to unwrap the box and get the eggs resting to be put into the incubator later tomorrow!

Here are some pictures showing what a super awesome job Pink did in wrapping and packing the eggs for their journey! All eggs arrived safe and sound 16 total. They are a wonderful color

These were under a layer of packing peanuts!

Picture showing how the bottom of the box was cushioned before the packing of the eggs!

 

[Mountain Mel]

Quote:
Wishful thinking, I assure you. I am impressed with the packing job but really...nothing that Kim does surprises me. If you all could see just how much that lady is into her chickens you would look at how she packed those eggs and say to yourself, "I wouldn't have expected anything less".

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Wishful thinking, I assure you. I am impressed with the packing job but really...nothing that Kim does surprises me. If you all could see just how much that lady is into her chickens you would look at how she packed those eggs and say to yourself, "I wouldn't have expected anything less".

One can always wish.. that's what keeps us getting up day after day! Of course coming home to unpack the box made me late to work

and so my "boss" was on the phone so I wouldn't be too much longer!

Told him he could see the eggs tonight when he gets home!

Just incase someone thinks this strange- we're self employed and he's also my DH!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
hmmmm.....um....a hug?

I'm thinking we should see what others suggest for a prize....if it were me I'd say a big box of pullets haha

And here I was thinking a BIG BAG of chick starter to feed all these cockerels I have running around OR OR OR a bag of ear plugs so I don't have to hear all the crowing.

 

[ruth]

Quote:

 

[Sphinx]

I know it seems like I'm just bursting in, but I've been lurking for a long time.

I wanted to see if any of you wanted to wager a guess on gender for my BCM chick. It is around 10-11 days old.

Another view from the top.