Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

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awww....that is too bad indeed. He's a nice one, except for that comb... what a shame. Luckily you have some others from Kim's stock that might have some great chicks yet to come for you.

Indeed...going that route with the splash over some BCM girls would do the trick. Where I start getting all nervous and twitchy when crossing lines is if I'll lose egg color...and the real kicker is not knowing if you have until you wait til the chicks start laying. I think this is the hardest part for me.... I still do the crosses and so far I've had good luck, but all those things I hear from other people's experiences do roll around in my mind every time.

 

[berkeleysprings]

the heat is on , not much helps hear 100+ temps , chickens just gotta stay in the shade hope it cools down soon
im sure many have it worse than me in west virginia

 

[gilavina]

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I hope it cools down for all of us soon. Its been miserable for most of the last two weeks here with the heat index hitting well over 110 several times. So far I've only lost one bird to the heat, but of course it always has to be a favorite. I'm still completely bummed about it.

 

[Debbi]

Good morning guys!

Yes, this weather is just not giving in! We've had these awful temps since June. We normally get this kind of weather every year, I just don't remember it hanging around this long, and with no rain. It's scary dry here, and people are idiots. I expect the fires to start at any time. One guy right down the road had a massive fire going yesterday clearing his lot. At least the wind isn't blowing, and my home owner's insurance is paid up!

Knock wood, but haven't lost anyone yet to the heat. Hopefully, we'll get some rain this weekend. C'mon thunder!!

Thought I'd never say that!

 

[gilavina]

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It is scary when other people are being thoughtless in this weather.... I will never understand the logic of starting fires when it is dry like this and not take into consideration that it may just not be the smartest thing to put other people and their property and animals at risk...or their own place for that matter. It happens frequently here with one neighbor. I keep a close eye for sure.
We had a storm roll through last night...it was more rumbles and lightning than anything else. I think the weather on the news this morn said we got a whole 1/16 of an inch, but at this point, I'll take what I can get for sure!

 

[Debbi]

Wish I had the camera last night when I went back out to the run to put the little boys in their crate! I had been wondering how in the world Clyde was sleeping in that tiny coop. When I got out there, I saw how. He looked like a big dog laying in a dog house, with his head outside the door, resting his chin on the little ramp!

So cute, the big dummy...

 

[gilavina]

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haha...that paints quite the picture! Just ran out and checked on my ducklings...I'm up to three now! 6 more possible. I feel like a kid at christmas...seems no matter what I'm hatching I turn into a big kid.

 

[Debbi]

Well, you know you'll have to show us at least one pic of the duckies! That's probably the one animal I haven't owned. Something about hatching eggs turns us all into kids! I was just looking at my bator yesterday, and I swear it called out to me!

Back away, back slooowly away from the bator!!!!!!!!!! So, I turned around and played with the Silkies!

 

[gilavina]

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haha....that's why I have to put my incubator in the storage space....if I see it I just can't help but hatching! The 15 chicks I have in the garage that are two weeks old proves that I just can't have it just hanging out in my eye line. I'll get some pics of the wee duckers probably this afternoon after I get back home (heading to Pioneeers Courage Park in Omaha with the kiddos). The third was still pretty wet. I think one of the things I find the most fascinating is how the hen made her nest...she worked on it for at least a week before she started setting. Its a mix of hay, grass, and mud all hardened into this dish/bowl shape....love it.
How are your silkies coming along? fuzzy butts I bet!

 

[pinkchick]

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Gorgeous rooster......................................................STUPID COMB!!!!!!!!!

MathAce~ You asked me why Gnarles was ix-nayed from the breeding pen.....see Debbi's boys comb??? This is exactly why....STUPID COMBS...... I have a boy with a comb that puts the icing on the STUPID COMB CAKE. I will post a photo of it this morning if I can wake my sister so that I can borrow her camera to take a pic.




Debbi~ My gal that looks like Olivia is coming up to point of lay pretty soon, her completely black comb and wattles that she has had from hatch are almost all nice bright pinkish red.....she is still jet black with one visible copper hackle feather. Almost can't wait to see her egg....if it is anything like the Bill girls egg who has just started laying, I'll do the happy dance for days...even in the stupid rain. Yes it is raining again here this morning...go figure. DUMB!!!!!!!