Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Haven't been outstide this am yet to do chores, they were on medicated feed from day 1 and so I didn't want to use the same medication as in the feed. Last night some were moving around a bit more.

Well all remaining 7 chicks made it through the night! So right now they are holding their own, we'll see how the day goes. Hopefully they will start feeling better today!!

Hens ~ I used to feed the medicated Chick Starter too, and fed it until they were 6 weeks old. I don't use it any more, as I have read lots of posts that say the low dose of antibiotics builds up in their systems, but is not enough to knock out something like Cocci. Then when you do need to use antibiotics, they have a somewhat resistance to them, due to the low buildup of the antibiotics in the feed. I just start mine right off on Chick Grower feed, non-medicated, and so far, I've had no incidence with any diseases here.

 

[Debbi]

7-8 weeks old is when mine started crowing too last year. Last year I had 22 cockerels and once 1 learned to crow I had a band of awful sounding crows. At first I didn't know what that noise was. Then all the cockerels had to go! Too much noise.

I love those first attempts at crowing! Sounds like someone is strangling a cat!

 

[thebutress]

22 sounds like a problem! Haha

 

[Debbi]

22 sounds like a problem! Haha

You bet! The day I got rid of 9 roos in one whack, it was almost deafingly quiet here! Time for more roos to disappear, sure helps the feed bill go way down too!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Hens ~ I used to feed the medicated Chick Starter too, and fed it until they were 6 weeks old. I don't use it any more, as I have read lots of posts that say the low dose of antibiotics builds up in their systems, but is not enough to knock out something like Cocci. Then when you do need to use antibiotics, they have a somewhat resistance to them, due to the low buildup of the antibiotics in the feed. I just start mine right off on Chick Grower feed, non-medicated, and so far, I've had no incidence with any diseases here.

this year by us has been weird weather wise just like everywhere else. We had earlier groups of chicks that we didn't use medicated feed on and ended up treating them as well- however they didn't seem to get it as bad as this group has it. I switched this group back to the non-medicated feed, at this point we are hoping for the best.

 

[gilavina]

Hens ~ I used to feed the medicated Chick Starter too, and fed it until they were 6 weeks old. I don't use it any more, as I have read lots of posts that say the low dose of antibiotics builds up in their systems, but is not enough to knock out something like Cocci. Then when you do need to use antibiotics, they have a somewhat resistance to them, due to the low buildup of the antibiotics in the feed. I just start mine right off on Chick Grower feed, non-medicated, and so far, I've had no incidence with any diseases here.

Agreed Debbi. I don't use medicated chick feed anymore and have not lost a single chick. I also don't let chicks on the ground where adults are for the first month of their lives and it is a simple and effective preventative measure. By the time they are put on the ground, they have built up their immune system and works well for me. I just use old rabbit hutches to house the chicks for the first few weeks.

 

[Debbi]

Agreed Debbi. I don't use medicated chick feed anymore and have not lost a single chick. I also don't let chicks on the ground where adults are for the first month of their lives and it is a simple and effective preventative measure. By the time they are put on the ground, they have built up their immune system and works well for me. I just use old rabbit hutches to house the chicks for the first few weeks.

Morning Vicki!

Yes, my chicks stay in the brooder until at least 5 weeks old. Got 3 now that need to go outside! The "Big Bird" cage ain't so big any more!

I took them out to the run the other day and let Big Daddy Clyde do his babysitting thing. After laying down the law, gently, by the end of the day the chicks were following him around like baby ducks. He would announce "treats" and took them all to the waterer. He is such a good guy..

 

[gilavina]

Morning Vicki!

Yes, my chicks stay in the brooder until at least 5 weeks old. Got 3 now that need to go outside! The "Big Bird" cage ain't so big any more!

I took them out to the run the other day and let Big Daddy Clyde do his babysitting thing. After laying down the law, gently, by the end of the day the chicks were following him around like baby ducks. He would announce "treats" and took them all to the waterer. He is such a good guy..

great minds eh? haha
Mornin Debbi!

 

[Debbi]

Is it hot up your way Vicki?? Yesterday got to 90* here, thankful for a nice breeze. Went shopping, and got some tomatoes, and Cayenne pepper plants, and some Parsley and Basil seeds. Had to make a chicken wire cage for the window boxes for the herbs, as both chickens and cats like to lie in the boxes! Put a stop to that! Then went on to whack the weeds out of the garden, AGAIN, and today I will till, clean out the coop and till again! Looks like another hot one here today...

 

[Debbi]

Sitting here with the front door open. Pip got used to coming to the door, and would stand there and watch the TV! I swear he is addicted to my Soap Opera!

Well, since the antenna went out, no TV. Now he is here standing in the doorway, and whining. "What's up? Turn on the tube!!"