Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gardengoats11]

This is my older pair of BCMs. They are 20 months old. You can pick her eggs out of the mix. I hope adding the pictures works.

 

[Debbi]

Sorry, your pic links aren't working.

 

[gardengoats11]

Maybe this will work.

 

[ChicksterJo]

Like almost everywhere else in the US it was hot here today. So what did I do? Fill up a 5 gal bucket (because someone'd get mad if I filled up the kiddie pool and it was scratched up by the chickens) 2/3 of the way with water and let my Marans stand in it until she started kicking. It lasted for a few minutes. I think she secretly loved it. I'm afraid of her overheating because of her feathery feet (they are hot when I touch them) and she stops panting for an hour or two after her "dunk." I'm waiting for her to start squatting so she can lay me some coveted chocolate eggs, though!!

gardengoats11, those are some nice eggs!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Sure hope you aren't using cold water?? That can and will send them into shock. She may not be panting, but that could cause her to quit breathing entirely! Best to wet down the ground around the run or in places they may go if they are outside. Here in MO., I find that wetting just causes more humidity, and it's the humidity mine are having trouble with. When they go to dust themselves, they are just digging up suface dirt, which is very dry, and they are dusting in it all day. Since they aren't digging into the deeper, cooler dirt, it occured to me that what they want is DRY. Today was the hottest day yet, 105* on the shades porch, and they are all doing fine; panting, but fine.

 

[ChicksterJo]

Oh no, I used warm water. The water came out pretty warm out of the hose. I know that it would send me into shock as well if I drank very cold water and I was hot. I work outdoors so I know how that feels - not good!! She didn't stop breathing, she actually calmed down. The water did not cover her entirely. It came up to the top of her legs. I was told cooling down their feet would help.

It is not that humid here, maybe 30 or 40% tops even with so-called "rain clouds."

 

[Debbi]

I wish our humidity was that low! More like 80-90% here. Feels like the Amazon! I used to live in San Bernardino, so I know CA weather. Hot is still hot, but muggy hot STINKS!

We also had one of our worst winters ever this past season, with frigid temps at or below -10 for a week straight. This has been the weather year from hell, but if it don't kill us, we will be stronger for it, chooks included!

 

[ChicksterJo]

I lived in Chicago for 4 years and stayed there for 3 summers. Even though I lived two blocks from the lake it was so muggy I couldn't breathe. Felt like I was underwater. And the feeling of wanting to take several showers a day! (I tried very hard not to.) It was awful!

If I could I would let a couple of my "hottest" chickens stay inside during the warmest time of the day, around 1-2 p.m. here. But in the midwest, the hottest part of the day in summer - ALL DAY!! If it's 90 at night you bet it will start at 80 in the morning

 

[gardengoats11]

This is my younger pair. They are about 9 months.

The eggs from the above hen aren't as dark as my older hen's.

 

[Illia]

Wow those birds are practically bloody!

Hah, I laugh in the face of you hot weather people. . . . As usual, out here in the Northwest it isn't even reaching 78 degrees. Although in my greenhouse -

I try and keep that baby cooler, but man, the temps love being near or above the 90's.




Oh, and

for all those who remember me.