Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

well....up to five duckers now! I'm so excited! Now just gotta figure out if this BCM is indeed going to go broody on me...

 

[ChicksterJo]

Those chocolate baby ducks are so cute...I wish I could have a few ducks but I don't have my own place yet and I don't have the room.

The Blue copper marans I posted a pic of is still getting harassed by my red sex link. I am thinking of buying or making a small pen and keeping the RSL in it for a couple of weeks. I don't want to let the RSL go (she just started laying) but my marans is such a doormat and a sweetie, I don't want her to live in fear. She runs away every time she sees the RSL. Tonight, they were on the roost and the Marans was just sitting down, ready to go to bed, when the RSL strolls over and pecks her repeatedly on the head and pulls at her neck feathers. I've had it!!

 

[Debbi]

Good morning all

Vicki ~ Congrats on another duckling! Looks like you might be getting some rain up there this morning?? We had some storms pop up around here yesterday, but I got exactly 10 drops of rain; yup, I counted them!

ChicksterJo ~ Yes, a little solitary confinement for miss RSL may help some. My Marans girls are all bullies to the younger chicks coming into the flock. My oldest hens, my Pink baby girls, and the older roos are all good with the upcoming pullets, but the young roos are NOT having them in their midst! Then when I put the 4 young pullets in with the 3 younger than them chicks, they are now the bullies! Seems they get great joy intimidating them, and when not looking, they go in for a peck or two. Big daddy, Clyde, does his part to intervene with the bullying, but me thinks he's getting tired of playing babysitter!

There's always some level of drama going on here, but so far I'm lucky to be able to pick out who's doing what to whom, and for the most part, everyone gets along...except Roy & Clyde.

That's the saddest one for me, as they used to be best of pals, now they want to kill each other. And so it goes...

 

[pinkchick]

Yah.....I know what the comb is and why it has happened and that is the sad reason that Gnarles is no longer being used. But Thank you to both of you. I am growing very impatient and want so bad to hatch some eggs from my Lil' Bill......but I must wait, just don't want to raise babies right now and with this being our busy season I just don't have the time. I do have 2 broody hens that are not giving up that I am going to put some select eggs under from test matings with some other birds, but alas, none of those eggs are from Lil Bill.

 

[pinkchick]

Welcome back Don! How have you been??

 

[pinkchick]

Debbi~ The next time you are in the mood to count raindrops......you just come on over here to my house, girl you could be busy for quite sometime.

Vicki~ Congrats on the duckies and Thank You to you and Flgarden for the duck info. I would get some ducks for slug hunters (WE HAVE ALOT OF SLUGS....you wouldn't believe it) but I am afraid that they would eat all my flowers and veggies......then where on earth would I keep them? Ducks = another coop.

Did I see correctly once and their are some miniature ducks out there somewhere??? Something Whites???

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
I don't know if we'll get rain or not....its been teasing us off and on for the last few days...and always seems to veer around us at the last second and we get just a light sprinkle, then nothing else...except increased humidity....just what I've always wanted

Hopefully you get more than your 10 drops of rain here soon!..sure could use a break in this long string of really hot days.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
there are several breeds of bantam ducks out there....I know on here someone talked about midget white turkeys....maybe that's what you're thinking of....? there are black east indies, mini silver appleyards, call ducks (tons of colors), mallards, australian spotteds, and I'm sure I'm missing a couple. I've heard there are blue east indies floating around out there somewhere, but never seen any in person. I bet the ducks would be great for slug control. If you ever think about it more seriously, I'd hunt around on the internet and see which ones people have the best success with in the slug control and etc.
My runners fit into the lightweight class....at a whole 4 pounds....they are tall but light as a feather compared to my Marans haha

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
I don't remember what Gnarles' comb looked like, was it carnation? If it was, I must've been blinded by his body beauty!

How old is Lil Bill now? The three Amigos from your chicks here sure are "in the mood", and running the pullets! In fact, all of my hens and pullets opted to stay in the run with Clyde today rather than to venture out with the marauding mob of roos! Smart girls!

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
there are several breeds of bantam ducks out there....I know on here someone talked about midget white turkeys....maybe that's what you're thinking of....? there are black east indies, mini silver appleyards, call ducks (tons of colors), mallards, australian spotteds, and I'm sure I'm missing a couple. I've heard there are blue east indies floating around out there somewhere, but never seen any in person. I bet the ducks would be great for slug control. If you ever think about it more seriously, I'd hunt around on the internet and see which ones people have the best success with in the slug control and etc.
My runners fit into the lightweight class....at a whole 4 pounds....they are tall but light as a feather compared to my Marans haha

You are right, I was confused and thinking Midget White turkeys.....I don't want turkeys.....my bad, but I have read about the Silver Appleyards and I liked what I read, I just didn't know they were small. That's a plus. Blue East Indies sound cool too...of course because they are blue...will have to look them up. Thanks Vicki...your swell!