Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Forgive me if you already posted this... are you using the automatic turners that you buy for incubators? Cuz they do only turn once every 4 hours. That is normal.

no I have one of the old sportsman units that is set for every 2 hours. I don't mind 4 or 2 hours either way, as long as it keeps doing the turning

I just thought it was kinda funny it was different empty than when loaded

 

[Christie Rhae]

This is not really the right category for my pic but I am so proud of my building skills

I do have 6 lil' marans chicks in here if you look close.
This is my intermediate brooder idea. After about 3 or 4 weeks I literally cannot stand the chicks in the house (in their big brooder) any longer. The nights still do get down to 50 so that is a little chilly for 4 week old babies. There is a piece of an old towel attached in the front by the feed dishes so they can run out and duck back under the box when they want to warm up.
There are a couple more pics on My Coop thread I started.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/613051/my-new-breeding-pens-progress-pics/40#post_8330617

 

[DMRippy]

Pink.... I have not had time to check the eggs you sent. I had to move chickens yesterday and today I had to pack eggs to ship and move chickens, sell chickens and mix feed

does it every end. Anyway...I added water to the incubator today and thought well while I am here let me try to look at a couple of your eggs.... I couldn't see anything. But the first one I picked up was labeled BLUE and it hat a big crack from the top all the way to the bottom with some egg leaking out... so I cracked it open and I think the yoke was scrambled too. I should have time tomorrow to check them all. I will up date you if I can see in them. Batteries must be really low, I can't even see the air sack. Usually at this point I can see in them some.

 

[3riverschick]

awh... such a cute set-up! You did a nice job on it. I really like the green paint! good idea with the towel too.
Best,
Karen

 

[SD_Paulo]

Vicky~

That is a bit odd that they tun differently when there is less weight on the rack? its been a while.......Did you ever get the clear viewing door installed?

Post a picture if you havent already...

Cheers,

so far so good on this incubator test run. Its only been two days, but the turners have been running smoothly and every two hours on the dot. I'm thrilled! Curiously tho...I noticed when I was testing the turners when the incubator was getting up to temp, the turners only turned every 4 hours when empty.

The warm temps today have the boys acting up and getting scrappy with each other. So, its lookin like its definitely time for some more moving around and finalizing breeding pens!

no I have one of the old sportsman units that is set for every 2 hours. I don't mind 4 or 2 hours either way, as long as it keeps doing the turning

I just thought it was kinda funny it was different empty than when loaded

 

[pinkchick]

Donna~
I hope the rest are doing okay for you. I can't wait to hear about them and you know if this hatch stinks you will be getting some eggies promptly.

I had a 100% hatch last night....all 6 that were suppose to come to you and the other 6 slightly lighter colored eggs I tossed in for giggles, I couldn't very well let that big 'bator run with only 6 eggs in it, could I?

. All babies are doing great and running around causing problems in hatching tray. Must get them out of the 'bator this morning. A mix of blues, blacks and splash.

I have 16 more eggies ready to go in this morning.....was going to put them in a couple days ago but forgot so I better get to them today I think.



VICKI~ THANK YOU FOR THE SPONGE TIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worked like a charm and kept the humidity up to a nice 62%......didn't have one shrink wrapped chickie!

 

[gilavina]

Donna~
I hope the rest are doing okay for you. I can't wait to hear about them and you know if this hatch stinks you will be getting some eggies promptly.

I had a 100% hatch last night....all 6 that were suppose to come to you and the other 6 slightly lighter colored eggs I tossed in for giggles, I couldn't very well let that big 'bator run with only 6 eggs in it, could I?

. All babies are doing great and running around causing problems in hatching tray. Must get them out of the 'bator this morning. A mix of blues, blacks and splash.

I have 16 more eggies ready to go in this morning.....was going to put them in a couple days ago but forgot so I better get to them today I think.



VICKI~ THANK YOU FOR THE SPONGE TIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worked like a charm and kept the humidity up to a nice 62%......didn't have one shrink wrapped chickie!

haha I wish it was my idea...I'd probably be a rich lady if it was, but I'm glad I could help out! Those sponges work wonders. I need to buy a couple of new ones myself, for the hatcher. We'll see if I get that lucky on my hatch. I kind of hope not...otherwise I'll have a crapload of babies running around! I'm not ready for that big of a hatch yet

I'm glad you had such a wonderful hatch! I can't wait to see all the babies!!! Pics please?! I'm having a hard time being patient with this hatch already. I'm so pathetic....its day three...what the heck?

But, it'll be time to candle already over the weekend

 

[pinkchick]

haha I wish it was my idea...I'd probably be a rich lady if it was, but I'm glad I could help out! Those sponges work wonders. I need to buy a couple of new ones myself, for the hatcher. We'll see if I get that lucky on my hatch. I kind of hope not...otherwise I'll have a crapload of babies running around! I'm not ready for that big of a hatch yet

I'm glad you had such a wonderful hatch! I can't wait to see all the babies!!! Pics please?! I'm having a hard time being patient with this hatch already. I'm so pathetic....its day three...what the heck?

But, it'll be time to candle already over the weekend

Thanks! Will get photos as soon as I can. They are little trouble makers I'm tellin ya! LOL!

 

[Debbi]

Good morning all

Vicki, I hear ya on the wild roos! Warm weather here has got them all frisky with the girls...and each other. I wouldn't worry about that turner if it's turning every 4 hours, that sounds about right to me? I may be glad I don't have a Sportsman, I could get in a LOT of trouble, really fast with one! 100+ chicks running around at a time would do me in!

Kim, You know we need pics, CONGRATS!! Wishing you nothing but pretty combs!!

Christie, Good job on the brooder! Be careful though if that's a 250watt bulb, they start a lot of fires, especially with straw in the mix. Do you have a thermometer in there to make sure it (the straw) doesn't get too hot? There have been a few folks out here that have lost entire barns due to those bulbs, so just keep an eye on it. Chicks here are out of the house when fully feathered and it's 50*!!

 

[gilavina]

Good morning all

Vicki, I hear ya on the wild roos! Warm weather here has got them all frisky with the girls...and each other. I wouldn't worry about that turner if it's turning every 4 hours, that sounds about right to me? I may be glad I don't have a Sportsman, I could get in a LOT of trouble, really fast with one! 100+ chicks running around at a time would do me in!

Kim, You know we need pics, CONGRATS!! Wishing you nothing but pretty combs!!

Christie, Good job on the brooder! Be careful though if that's a 250watt bulb, they start a lot of fires, especially with straw in the mix. Do you have a thermometer in there to make sure it (the straw) doesn't get too hot? There have been a few folks out here that have lost entire barns due to those bulbs, so just keep an eye on it. Chicks here are out of the house when fully feathered and it's 50*!!

Haha...yeah...I ended up setting more eggs than I thought I would this first round, but I'm hoping for even just a small portion of them to be ones I will hold back. We'll see I suppose!
I just had to have fun since the rest of the year will be individual pairings.

I'm getting things started for spring here this week since its so nice out!!