Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Ivywoods]

OOOPS! Wrong thread.. my wheatens are ameraucanas.

 

[Debbi]

Vicki,

Didn't mean to disappear last night, a rather large storm came out of nowhere, and it's off line for me! I lucked out, it passed me to the north, but we did get a good residual rain from it. I'm going to try to make the Sedalia show in October. That would be fun to put some faces with the names here! I'm afraid it would be like going to Vegas. Just take so much money, then when it's gone, GO HOME!! I'm not bringing anything, but I hope I don't come home with anything either!

Hmm, come to think of it, that plan didn't work too well in Vegas either...

 

[gilavina]

double post...oops

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
No worries...figured something came up.

Glad you got some rain tho!

I'm definitely going to the sale over in Kansas coming up on the 17th of sept...but I'd like to make it to the sedalia show too and meet some of the people from here too. I'll have to see if I can work something to be able to go. I won't be bringing anything either, but won't say nothing will come home with me either if I go....

I learned a long time ago when it comes to birds...that if ya find something that ya like, snatch it up while ya see it. I passed up some birds last year and am still kicking myself for it.

how long of a drive is it for you up there?

 

[pinkchick]

Morning Everybody!

MATH ACE!!!!!!! I can't find your post with those boys' pictures in it. Would you be so kind as to repost or direct me to them. Thank you!
Bet you thought I forgot about you.....didn'tcha?

 

[susanbird]

Quote:
Gosh, my wheaten roosters are some of my nicest. They are super friendly and nice, and for the most part some of the other roosters pick on them. They definitely are not the dominant rooster in the yard. Such a difference... just like kids in the same families.... all so different.

I wish I could draw. I would love to see the picture of the spiked collar and tatooed roo LOL

One of the little roos I used to have would stalk me and then attack from behind. I quit wearing shorts as I didn't think the holes in my legs were fashionable. If someone had a camera on me they would have sworn I was some freaked out, paranoid fugitive from the law. I was always watching my back to make sure he wasn't around, even if I had to sneak. One day one of the feral cats scared one of his girls that was close to me. Cocky didn't see the cat, he only saw me and came flying at me. I got my arm up in time or the little creep would have gotten my face. Next time the friends, who gave him to me, came over we caught him and we did spur removal ! Sad to say a lady had to find homes for her chickens as the zoning was changed and I took in her huge, black rooster. Well, cocky challenged him and within minutes there was no more Cocky.

The Marans that I just got, from 3 different sources are all pretty mellow. The most recent rooster (6 mos old) earned the name of Randy Roo. He has left the pullets that are close to his size( 4 mos old) alone; but, chases and tries to breed with the smaller girls(3 1/2 mos old). I took a board and propped it in the corner of the outdoor area so the girls could go in one side and out the other ( Same idea as a Cockatoo nest box). As I watched the girls figured it out. Randy would go in after them and out the girls came--they got their exercise. The next morning all 3 of the "little" girls had gotten out and went back to their old coop. The big girls just give him the "evil eye" and he leaves the two smaller roos alone. I really don't want two coops at this point, one for hiim and one for everyone else. I haven't figured out what to do yet. All of the pullets get along, 4 Cuckoos, 2 BCM and 2 Blues. I'm worried that if I return the youngsters that he will totally stress them out.

The lady I got the youngest pullets and Randy from, said that she has no problems with the roosters fighting with each other or being aggressive to humans. I should have known that Randy would be a problem when, the first night he spent here, he got out of his coop and tried to mate with a Mille Fleur cockerel. He about squished the poor little guy. She said that I could trady Randy for a different cockerel. I really don't want to do that, he is so pretty.

 

[gilavina]

Mornin Kim!

All the good feedback yesterday has really made me feel good about the progress I've been watching in my breeding program! Might have to get some more pics of some of my other girls and boys. Its gotten harder to catch them in good stances instead of these crazy running and flapping wing pictures. The cooler weather has made them turn into little energy balls!

Did you see my question for you about the length of Gigantor's back yesterday?

oh...and I just made the mistake of looking at a farm website up in WI....they have lavender laced brahmas.....they are beauties!

 

[pinkchick]

I sure did...but was very busy canning yesterday....worked up a sweat running back and forth to the stove and the computer. Put up 10 pints of Split Pea and Ham...all homegrown...ham courtesy of my dear friend Mountain Mel and peas and carrots out of my garden, with a sprig of mint. Yummy!!!!! 10 pints of Navy beans....10 half pints of Blueberry jam....13 quarts of Red Potatoes and working on Zucchini relish tonight. Oh..I'm making myself hungry.

ANYWAY......BREED THAT BOY VICKI. He is a very nice bird....I like him alot. You could just send me some of his fertilized eggs to test out for ya.

Along with some of those Birchen eggs too if you don't have enough room in your Sportsman.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
WOW! You were reallllllly busy canning yesterday! I usually can in small batches here and there, but have been thinking about doing a "canning day" one of these days....but just haven't yet.

Glad you don't think his back is too short. I like his back, and compared to the sketch of the ideal marans cockerel he doesn't look half bad. I'm looking forward to seeing how he finished out as far as width and such.
hey, did you get your blue copper boys from a cross with a black copper male? I am hoping I can use him over 5 of the splash girls I have and see if I can get some nice boys out of that cross.

If I can get the egg color deeper and the size up on the birchens I will count myself really lucky. So perhaps one day you might get some eggs from me...but by far out of all the birds I own...they need to most work...which I am sure comes as no surprise to anyone.

I probably wont be doing any hatching til next spring...but it might be a really early spring for me

...I'm just not sure how long I can hold off

 

[Ivywoods]

Pink- Did you see the "stupid comb" pictures I put on? Besides the frostbite, I don't know what you would call a comb like that one. I sold a couple of my other hens with "stupid combs." They went to layer flocks where there is NO rooster! Oh, be sure to say a big HELLO to Mel. I haven't heard from him for quite some time.

Debbi and Vicki- OH! That would be so cool to be able to meet you guys! We'll have to wear BYC buttons or something! I am planning on taking some birds to Sedalia, but not to show. They are being sold. I am HOPING to come back with a couple. I've had feelers out for quite a while for some SQ bantam black cochins to put with my old rooster.

My husband read the part about the SLR camera. He looked at me like I had been living in a cave somwhere and politely said, "single lens reflex". Okay, okay. I admit. I need the book, "Electronics for Dummies."