Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

oh yeah. comin up in April at the end of the month is the poultry show in Scribner! Hope you can make it! I also saw an ad on CL in omaha listing a guy that makes bobcat live traps and I thought of you!

 

[DMRippy]

Kids get pregnant at 15, and the babies are fine...
I wouldn't sell the eggs as hatching eggs, because there are so many things that just aren't perfect with them.
The shape is off, the size is off, the pullet just isn't up to speed on the egg thing.
If you count on them to hatch, you may be disappointed, but there is no reason not to try.
It's just a rookie thing

Yeah... don't ever hatch an odd looking egg... you could but I would not. I have been getting some long skinny eggs from some new pullets.... I would never put those in, just to odd to grow a baby in.

Olive Eggers are FUN! I just made a new pen with some barred EE Pullets so I will have sex links... LOVE that

now for those pullets to get up to speed so I can start hatching. I have some D'Uccle pullets and have been tossing all those eggs in the bator... but none have made it to lockdown yet

maybe tomorrow's batch will have one for me to hatch

it is all an experiment with the first few eggs for them and us.

 

[DMRippy]

While we're talking hatching I would like to ask something, please. I'm in the process of building my incubator/hatcher. I have a commercial stainless refrigerator/freezer that I'm using and I'm figuring I need to see inside the hatcher part of it. Is there any reason to a cut viewing hole in the incubator since there's not much to see? Also, I see the Sportsman has the egg racks at an angle, but others are flat. I'm assuming the angle is better, but why?

Ok I don't own a sprotsman but I am pretty sure they have a turner for that price and you are just seeing the add with the tray to one side. They turn from one side to the other. Mine (in my siggy) moves from one side to the other too. I have a window on all my incubators. I like to make sure nothing has gone out, still turning like it should, how much water is in the tray and watch the temps. I have 3 different readings, just in case.

I think Vicki has 6

Eggs have to be turned daily... I have heard from 1 on up.... Mine get turned 6 times a day with an automatic timer.

 

[DMRippy]

Pink how many babies? I didn't see any action in mine yet, but they are not due till tomorrow. Got the electric in the new brooder and moved into the Nursery Room

I moved my youngest babies into the bottom brooder and will add babies from the bottom up. I need to move the batch with your other two Marans Chicks into the main shop. Just for more room.

 

[gilavina]

Ok I don't own a sprotsman but I am pretty sure they have a turner for that price and you are just seeing the add with the tray to one side. They turn from one side to the other. Mine (in my siggy) moves from one side to the other too. I have a window on all my incubators. I like to make sure nothing has gone out, still turning like it should, how much water is in the tray and watch the temps. I have 3 different readings, just in case.

I think Vicki has 6

Eggs have to be turned daily... I have heard from 1 on up.... Mine get turned 6 times a day with an automatic timer.

uh....you probably are right...three on the incubator and three on the hatcher!

 

[chevgrl]

I'm doin ok. havent been on here as much myself so cant speak for everyone else haha

oh yeah. comin up in April at the end of the month is the poultry show in Scribner! Hope you can make it! I also saw an ad on CL in omaha listing a guy that makes bobcat live traps and I thought of you!

Haha surprisingly he hasnt been back! and Im thankful! I wanna go! I would acctually consider showing a few possibly. although im alittle scared of trying to remember show prep its been awhile!

 

[gilavina]

Haha surprisingly he hasnt been back! and Im thankful! I wanna go! I would acctually consider showing a few possibly. although im alittle scared of trying to remember show prep its been awhile!

If you do want to show, I can help you go through it and also I have the show book already, so I could get you a copy sent off with the entry form if you like. Just let me know!

And I'm so glad that the bobcat is staying away!

 

[DMRippy]

I just read a CL ad $40 for FBCM hatching eggs... had to read, cuz the guy I bought my first chicks from has dropped his prices.....anyway The $40 guy said he won 1st and 3rd and Newnan.... this year...... OMG.... He is in TN, selling the eggs and chicks too I am sure with the DQ's

He said Rare Breed... that is not a category is it?

 

[pinkchick]

I just want to verify what I have read, we do not hatch pullet eggs right? All the info I find says to not hatch from pullet eggs. I can see not hatching those first tiny ones but can I really not use their eggs until they are 1 year old? That is when they are not a pullet anymore right? I was thinking I could get three generations in 2 years but maybe not?
What is everyone else's thoughts on this?

I don't hatch out the little tiny first eggs, heck some of those first eggs don't even have a yolk, just albumen. Since the first time I found a small pullet egg and it didn't have a yolk..I always have to break every one of them open that I find to see if they are lacking. It's totally weird to crack open and egg not see a yolk.

Anyway, I have started hatching new layers eggs as early as about 5 weeks or after they have stopped laying their first very tiny pullet eggs. As long as they are fertile....toss them in and try them out. You will be surprised at what you can get to hatch.
I'd be out of my mind if I waited to hatch their eggs until the girls turned 1 year old.

 

[chevgrl]

If you do want to show, I can help you go through it and also I have the show book already, so I could get you a copy sent off with the entry form if you like. Just let me know!

And I'm so glad that the bobcat is staying away!

Thatd be fun! lets do it! whens the show reg deadline? and the cost?