Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Vicki~

Not sure if I am keeping him or not...but it has been interesting to watch him grow out. I am not in love with the light copper color.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
yeah....I have to agree about the lighter copper. I love the nice rich coppers! The funny thing about watching birds grow out...even ones that you don't think you'll keep is how drastically they can change. I've had a couple of really good birds be ones I didn't think I'd keep, but that turned out very nice.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
If you want a blue turkey use blueberry juice to marinate it in. If you want PINK... cranberry juice! (Mine is usually pink)

Do tell how Roberta......I am cooking 2 turkeys so I could have one of each.

How long would you marinate and how much liquid would I need?

It was Donna. I use a brine of salt and sugar (1 cup each) and I use frozen cranberry and another juice like orange juice or apple. I then put spices, Rosemary and Thyme and pepper. This year I am using brown sugar and allspice too. The blueberry I have never used but might be good, grape juice might give you a blueish color too. A brine makes the best turkey or chicken. I have 3 birds soaking now! the longer to soak them the better!

I use one can of each frozen juice and then just enough water to cover or cover half and flip the bird regularly.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Do tell how Roberta......I am cooking 2 turkeys so I could have one of each.

How long would you marinate and how much liquid would I need?

It was Donna. I use a brine of salt and sugar (1 cup each) and I use frozen cranberry and another juice like orange juice or apple. I then put spices, Rosemary and Thyme and pepper. This year I am using brown sugar and allspice too. The blueberry I have never used but might be good, grape juice might give you a blueish color too. A brine makes the best turkey or chicken. I have 3 birds soaking now! the longer to soak them the better!

I use one can of each frozen juice and then just enough water to cover or cover half and flip the bird regularly.

Sorry!

Thanks for the info.....I have a freezer full of fresh blue berries from this summer and I could make juice.

 

[Mountain Mel 22]

Marans, Marans, Marans....soaking wet wind-blown, lookin' for cover Marans!

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=RTX

FYI Kim & I are about 1 inch above the word "Portland"

 

[rsquared]

Have a question for all you lovely Marans gardening folks, used to use Hardwood chips in the Midwest for bedding and then composted to various gardens. Here in the PNW I'm only finding Pine wood shavings, which I believe contain a resin, which I don't think can go into veggie gardening. A while back there was a straw discussion which I think Wynette says she doesn't use because it contains a mite? Is that only in the midwest? Need some input here as to what to use in the coop and pens and I really hate to "waste" the chicken poo as I desperately need it to do the new gardens here at the house. Any and all input is welcome, especially you PNWers....you know who you are

.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
I am unaware of any resins in the shavings that I use...going to have to look at that. I do not use straw in the coop but do use it in the runs but have to remove it pretty often as it gets yucky.

 

[Zanna]

Quote:
I believe the pine shavings to be ok, I use mine in the garden and all of the blueberry farmers around here heap it around their plants. I think it is the cedar shavings that is bad, has a resin and takes years to break down, bad for gardens and chickens.

 

[gilavina]

I buy non dyed natural mulch that is 1 to 2 bucks a bag when it is on sale. It lasts a long time and is easy to clean. When it is time I will use it to line the walk ways in the garden. If it gets wet or is particularly poopy, then it goes to the compost for a while til its composted enough to use in the garden. I just buy plenty of it when its on sale and store it in the hay mount. Works well for me

 

[Mountain Mel 22]

Quote:
I believe the pine shavings to be ok, I use mine in the garden and all of the blueberry farmers around here heap it around their plants. I think it is the cedar shavings that is bad, has a resin and takes years to break down, bad for gardens and chickens.

Blueberries & Rhodies LOVE acidic soil. Only a few plants do....most favor a sweeter soil. Pine NEEDLES are the best thing for blueberry mulch....here in the Pacific Northwest we mill a lot of Douglas Fir, Alder, and Maple. Alder sawdust will decompose the fastest. Look for a hardwood sawmill near you. In Longview it is Northwest Hardwoods, a division of Weyerhauser. I would think that they would probably let you have a feed-sack full (or 2) for the asking. Take a dozen eggs into the office and offer to do a trade....