Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[poodlepill]

Oh how interesting.....thanks! 2 of my BM pullets have these dark eyes and one has a shade darker than the 2nd roo.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Steven,

You've had your humidity at 55-60% for the first 18 days??? That's what it should be for the lockdown period, the first 18 days should be around (give or take) 35-40%.

 

[Debbi]

Now, we all know how tasty and special Marans eggs are, right?

Well, the other day it dawned on me that they may hold a new purpose in my house. My old female German Shepherd, Uma, is almost 14 years old and has been battling really bad arthritis. It got to the point where she could no longer hop onto her favorite couch, so I would have to lift her up. That's been going on for about 8 months now. I know how she feels as I am severely arthritic myself.

Anyway, for the last month and a half, I have been giving her and her roommate an egg a day in their food. Since it's just me here, no way could I eat all the eggs, even if it is just 3 or 4 a day.

I noticed her walking the other day, and she looked better to me. I had the builders make a handicapped ramp on the deck for Uma and me, and she was having trouble with that even. Now, she just strolls right up the thing! Also, that night, before I could get to her to lift her on her couch, she was up there, on her own!!!

Now, maybe it's the weather getting better, although it's not helped me much as it is still wet on and off, or...is it the eggs?? She would not eat store bought eggs ever, unless I cooked them; but these I feed fresh and raw, and she woofs it down! Same food they've been on for the last several years, so that's not it. Both of their coats are shedding out quickly and coming in beautifully! I can tell she's feeling better moodwise too, and is getting her goofy, talkative personality back too. She will continue her Marans egg regime now till the day she dies! Guess I better start cracking some of these beauties for myself on a daily basis and see if it helps me!

Just had to throw this out there, in case someone else has an arthritic dog. If you try it, let me know how it works with your dog!

 

[Debbi]

Ok, world's worst photographer, and it was high noon which meant I couldn't see squat in the viewfinder!

But here is a quick pic of the Pink babies at 5 weeks. At least little blue Charlotte posed pretty! In the front is Billie, then left to right is Charolette, Myrtle, Olivia, and JR. They look so big in the house, yet so small when they get outside!

 

[gilavina]

Ok...I got a couple of quick snapshots tonight as I was losing daylight. These are just a few of my pullets from my Valentine's day hatch.

an extra large black copper pullet. She is about half again the size of my blues

some of my blue girls. I love their lacing! Their eyes are starting to lighten up now too, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed

The girl in the middle is standing funny because she saw a bug and was trying to catch it.

Hopefully you get an idea of the fun I'm having watching my batches of chicks growing out. I've got quite a few in the BBS that are showing real promise! It got too dark to really get a good pic of some of my solid blacks and splashes. I'll have to try again, maybe tomorrow if its not raining.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Looking good Debbi!! I love blues...I just can't help it!

I just walked by the incubator and heard some wee peeping....sounds like more blues on the way soon!

 

[Debbi]

Pretty babies, Vicki! Yes, I'm hooked on the blues too! Wish I had gotten better pics today, but it was so nice I was in a hurry to work in the garden some. Supposed to rain darn near all this week!

Oh, and good luck with the new peepers too!!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Thanks Debbi! Ya know the funny part...I didn't get any blue boys from that hatch...most of them were from my cuckoo pen, but I already found homes for them. I do have some beautiful blue boys that are about 2 weeks old growing like mad.

I hear you on the not taking time to take many photos. I am usually much better at it, but the weather has been all over the place and I am in the middle of about 10 projects and starting a second job...so just trying to adjust I suppose. I hear it is rain for most of the week here too. I spent alot of the day planting seedlings for me and two of my neighbors. I'm grateful for a day off to work around the place!

 

[seabreeze]

NICE babies you guys!!

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
thanks! I'm looking forward to seeing how more of mine grow out! I'm thinking that this years hatch might really help me with setting up a really nice, well rounded flocks of BBS birds. I'll still have plenty of culling to do, but luckily I have a place for them to go to happy homes to lay eggs. I have another round of blues and my first batch of eggs from a test hatch on some blue birchens. We'll see how everything goes. Sometimes its just so hard to be patient while they are growing out!