Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Hens and Roos]

Thanks! Those are both great ideas...I've got purple and white Vet wrap already....l could maybe cut down those little plastic baskets kids use to keep toys organized or people use to keep things organized in and just make them as tall as the incubator so any chicks couldn't get out (the top of the bator would be right there... Tiny zip ties are good too- I've got them for my Mandarins (which ones hatch from which moms) as they grow. I'll welcome any ideas from all of you hatching pros. One question still though for Maran genetics and color experts- will ALL BBS Maran chicks look different at hatch than ALL BCM chicks? or can the Black (BBS) chicks be identical to the BCM chicks at hatch time?

From my experience hatching the chicks look the same, it takes awhile after they start putting in feathers before the color comes out if it is going to. I have a group of chicks a little over 8 weeks old that were supose to be BBS chicks and 1 boy is showing copper and the others aren't but that doesn't mean they can't be hiding the color.

 

[gilavina]

I'm still here lady, thanks for asking. Been a rough few days here, and hopefully got one part of it straightened out tonight! Now...to wait for the other shoe to drop.

Glad you are ok, but sounds like maybe it hasn't been so fun. If you need to vent, you know where I am!

 

[Debbi]

Glad you are ok, but sounds like maybe it hasn't been so fun. If you need to vent, you know where I am!

Thanks Vicki, if I have the strength to get through all my e-mails tonight, I just may!

 

[gilavina]

Thanks Vicki, if I have the strength to get through all my e-mails tonight, I just may!

OK!

 

[DMRippy]

lol I love your feeders!

That thing holds a TON of feed for one chicken. I would only have to feed those roos about once a week or maybe longer. When I used them temp. in the breeding pens, with 5 chickens it would last 2 days. That is not the big one from Sams or Costco either.

 

[DMRippy]

Tagging chicks. I highly recommend the vet wrap. you can use more than one color and even use two colors on each leg if needed. The options are endless really. Zip ties I HATE! I used them on my first hatch. They are SO hard to cut off and LORD HELP you if forget one. The vet wrap will stretch. At about 6-8 weeks I will use velcro. I add pipe cleaners to ID each chick. Those combinations are even more than the vet wrap. I really need to get pics of the velco... I don't think anyone really understands me when I talk about it. I have had it on my BCM since about they were chicks. I had to adjust it once on the roos, but it is still there. Only ever had one come off and it got stuck to another ones velcro tag LOL....

 

[chickenlisa]

yes, please show Velcro....please please.....pretty please. I love these ideas....Pipe cleaners are easy. I know what you mean about those zip ties- the little birds grow so fast and dang it if you miss one! I had one Mandarin duck who I missed and by the time I noticed it, that zip tie was SO tight around his leg it had indented it. Poor guy. He's ok, but it was SO hard to cut off without hurting him! So I'll separate the incubator with some sort of basket or craft fabric (to keep the BBS Maran chicks separated from the BCM chicks), and use vet wrap or pipe cleaners (or velcro) on any chicks who hatch before putting into the brooder box.
Thanks so much! I love BYC- there's always someone to help!

 

[Debbi]

Tagging chicks. I highly recommend the vet wrap. you can use more than one color and even use two colors on each leg if needed. The options are endless really. Zip ties I HATE! I used them on my first hatch. They are SO hard to cut off and LORD HELP you if forget one. The vet wrap will stretch. At about 6-8 weeks I will use velcro. I add pipe cleaners to ID each chick. Those combinations are even more than the vet wrap. I really need to get pics of the velco... I don't think anyone really understands me when I talk about it. I have had it on my BCM since about they were chicks. I had to adjust it once on the roos, but it is still there. Only ever had one come off and it got stuck to another ones velcro tag LOL....

I have 18 pairs of nippers for sale for all kinds of chicken emergencies! These are great for ingrown legbands (in conjuction with a small screwdriver to pull away from the leg), to cutting of chicken wire, and I've even cut through welded wire with these. I keep a pair in my coat pocket at all times, and one in the coop for emergencies. Also great for cutting baling twine and wire on straw/hay. E-mail or PM me if interested, I only have 18 left out of 250! They are also great for things like skinning catfish, and other uses! They are small sized and are great for chicken usage, and very handy due to the size.

 

[scottcaddy]

 

[sunleacreations]

Can anyone reccomend a good egg candler for use with maran eggs? Mine is just not cutting it with the maran eggs. I'm using a 90 lume LED flashlight and it doesn't do a darn thing. lol