Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Cad~ Congrats on the eggs!


Randy (Search4one) I recently (approx. 6 months ago I think) started using the egg carton method and I love it! I have had better hatch rates since I started using them.
I don't notice the chicks having any issues at all. I say try it a couple of times with and without to see what you prefer. If you are going to use the egg carton...use the stryofoam ones as the cardboard cartons will suck up the moisture and drop humidity.
I stand them almost straight up but with a slight lean so they are resting on the carton for support.
I cut the stryofoam ones way down so that they are only approx. 1/2" to 5/8" tall...just enough to keep the eggs from rolling out and so that they stand up and the other chicks cannot knock them around. Cut out the bottoms of each egg well out so that the egg can get circulation all around it.

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[DMRippy]

Vicki... you inspired me.... I have to make those dividers with the canvas like yours. I have so many babies that I have to know what, and who they are and I don't have that many trays or room for them. Got the hatcher running yesterday. Converted it over to the digital thermostat and used a smaller fan. Had to check and make sure the temps were consistant with all the baskets. Seemed to be working fine. I have another fan on standby if needed. Humidity was easily up to 65%. So I think I am good. Now to just get everything organized today and load them in.... then must finish the giant brooder boxes...

The BIG batch will be only three days behind. I hope those Marans hatch well.... I need to work on my flock. I need more good birds to breed.

 

[pinkchick]

Is it hard to breed back feathered legs? Also, how long does it take to get better leg feathers from a lightly-medium feathered legged bird? I want super heavy feathers.

You can get nice feathering in a couple of generations if you use a heavily feather shanked bird over the medium to light feathered. You will still probably get some that have medium to light feathering and perhaps even some that show nothing and you would not use them as they will pass this trait back to their offspring. Use the birds with the better and heavier feathering and breed back to the original heavy feathered bird....this should give you some nice and more consistant results in the second generation, but please remember that most likely you will get some weird stuff and some clean to light feathered shanks, just keep the best of the best of what you produce and breed them back. If this does not work for you, or you would like faster results, or you do not get the results you are looking for in a couple of gen's....perhaps you could look for some hatching eggs from someone that has birds with shank feathering you are looking for and hatch out some that you could use to breed back in to your flock.
In my experience .....2 lightly feather shanked (or sparsely feather shanked) birds will not produce a heavily feather shanked bird.

Clean legs to lightly-medium feathered shanks with clean outer toes in something that I work with alot as I choose to use a bird that is clean shanked. I am working on outer toe feathering and getting some good results. As for the amount of feathering on the shank I am happy with the non-street sweeper look but also do not go for the sparse feathering. I keep and use a couple of birds that are sweepers (heavily feathered) and they are the backbone of improving the shank feathering in my birds.

 

[Debbi]

THis question is often asked. You can read thru the back posts for many conversations about this. Many have opted to be happy with the light feathering as heavy feathering can include toe feathers which are a DQ.

Don--did I get it right???

NO! The SOP calls for feathering on the shanks and outside toes only. The DQ is any feathering on any other toes.

 

[Debbi]

Good luck on your hatch Donna!

 

[search4one]

Well, I have already tried it several times laying them on their side and keep getting fully developed chicks that don't pip. I have tried the dry method, wet method and several other methods.
I was also thinking about making some small racks out of dowl that I could set them on, on their sides. What do you think of that idea?
BTW, you inquired about some Silver Lakenvelder eggs several months ago, I did reply to your post, don't know if you saw it or not.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Cad~ Congrats on the eggs!


Randy (Search4one) I recently (approx. 6 months ago I think) started using the egg carton method and I love it! I have had better hatch rates since I started using them.
I don't notice the chicks having any issues at all. I say try it a couple of times with and without to see what you prefer. If you are going to use the egg carton...use the stryofoam ones as the cardboard cartons will suck up the moisture and drop humidity.
I stand them almost straight up but with a slight lean so they are resting on the carton for support.
I cut the stryofoam ones way down so that they are only approx. 1/2" to 5/8" tall...just enough to keep the eggs from rolling out and so that they stand up and the other chicks cannot knock them around. Cut out the bottoms of each egg well out so that the egg can get circulation all around it.

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[culler]

You can get nice feathering in a couple of generations if you use a heavily feather shanked bird over the medium to light feathered. You will still probably get some that have medium to light feathering and perhaps even some that show nothing and you would not use them as they will pass this trait back to their offspring. Use the birds with the better and heavier feathering and breed back to the original heavy feathered bird....this should give you some nice and more consistant results in the second generation, but please remember that most likely you will get some weird stuff and some clean to light feathered shanks, just keep the best of the best of what you produce and breed them back. If this does not work for you, or you would like faster results, or you do not get the results you are looking for in a couple of gen's....perhaps you could look for some hatching eggs from someone that has birds with shank feathering you are looking for and hatch out some that you could use to breed back in to your flock.
In my experience .....2 lightly feather shanked (or sparsely feather shanked) birds will not produce a heavily feather shanked bird.

Clean legs to lightly-medium feathered shanks with clean outer toes in something that I work with alot as I choose to use a bird that is clean shanked. I am working on outer toe feathering and getting some good results. As for the amount of feathering on the shank I am happy with the non-street sweeper look but also do not go for the sparse feathering. I keep and use a couple of birds that are sweepers (heavily feathered) and they are the backbone of improving the shank feathering in my birds.

Kim, good post. I could also add that if anyone breeds for the super heavy feathered shank and outer toe, you will get lots of chicks with feathered middle toe and web fuzz. It boils down to be a exercise of averages and culling. Don

 

[Wynette]

On the good side, my Wynette eggs went into lockdown around 2pm, and I think I'm already seeing a few rockers! Nothing to perk up the spirits like new chicks coming!! Let's hope for a good, non-stormy weekend!! Oh yeh, and lots of chickies!

WOOT!!!! BEST of hatching vibes continuing!!!

 

[Arielle]

NO! The SOP calls for feathering on the shanks and outside toes only. The DQ is any feathering on any other toes.

SORRY I left out an important word. Middle toes. Thanks for the catch Debbi.

 

[chickenlisa]

I've only posted on this thread a few times (despite reading it for over a month), but I'm going into lockdown tomorrow night with 28 BCM, BBS Marans, and OE eggs...I bought them on the BST thread here on BYC (from someone I haven't seen on this thread,so no worries there y'all.) I bought 38 eggs though and the very darkest eggs (said to be Wade Jeane C1 eggs) were clear...I did take out 2 others with bloodrings and I've left about 3 others that are iffy....but I'm so bummed that the darkest brown ones were the clear ones. Is it just a coincidence or bad luck due to shipping?

I marked them a week ago thinking they were clear ones, and then re-candled last night. I was careful when I opened them just in case the shell was so dark I wasn't seeing what was inside. But they were really just a raw egg inside...other than the 2 with blood rings (and no little chick

in there with it either....)
I took out all 6 of my Blue Silkie test eggs too as they were also clear (and those were from my adult pair out back- no shipping.)
The good news is I've got about 24 or more jumping chicks inside those other eggs (when I candled them last) that I was told are Bev Davis lines, and Blue Splash chicks (not sure where from) that I can't wait to see early next week. I need to find something to keep me uber busy then so I can just leave that incubator alone! Not one of my strengths!
Lisa
PS- I gave up trying to read the whole thread- as fast as I was reading, the end was growing longer and longer. I love reading the expert advice, wisdom and even just the chit chat on this thread! I also love the pics! What an education!) I jumped from pg 1360 to near the end so I can keep up better.