Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

She has it on newspaper. She said that it wasn't able to get out of the shell on its own so she helped it. Told me that it sat up last night on its own, so I'm taking it that means its butt.

Slick, the newspaper is the problem, it can't get a grip for a sure footing, it's too slick. Tell her for now, to put some paper towels on top of the paper and see if that doesn't help it along. I use the shelf lining material that is like a perforated rubber mat, then top it off with pine shavings. She can get the stuff at just about any dollar store or such for about 2 bucks a roll. I believe she is looking at spraddle leg, (or splayed leg) and if she let's it go, it may never walk. She may have to make a leg brace for it.

 

[slick4591]

I questioned her about the feet location. I'm familiar with spraddled, but this is the first time I've heard of them sticking straight out in front. I already told her to get paper towels and work with it walking. That's all could think of. Thanks!

 

[desertmarcy]

Good morning all!

Why is it not many folks like to hatch pullet eggs? Is it because they are unproven? Or the possibility of less fertility? I always seem to have the best luck with my pullet eggs, way more so than with the larger hen eggs.

This is my limited experience with pullet eggs: When my Orloffs started laying, I was pretty anxious to hatch some eggs. I asked another chicken breeder friend about hatching pullet eggs. She is working on several crosses to produce a good meat bird and told me her BIG rooster, which she named "Roozilla", came from a pullet egg! Well that just about says it all--he is huge now. So after the third egg was laid, I started incubating the Orloff pullet eggs and have had no issues with health or size of the chicks that hatched from them. Same thing when my Ameraucanas (1 black and 1 splash) started laying--I crossed them to my Orloffs and hatched pullet eggs, they were just fine.

Going out today and marking all the culls and posting ads for them. The chicken math is not working in my favor again, so some will have to go. This last batch of Silkies and SG are really looking good! Man, are they ever little pigs!! Randy is getting ready to send me some more Wheaten eggs, I hope. Randy, I just saw your post over in the Wheaten thread about your broody, so??? That will be my last hatch at least until fall. Yes, it will...I promise.

 

[SarniaTricia]

I love the beautiful chocolate brown colour of Marans eggs.... I love the look of the cuckoo marans bird....

I have gotten some cuckoo, wheaten, black and blue eggs over the last couple of months and noticed that the cuckoo are not the darkest coloured eggs... (no offence to anyone I have gotten eggs from)

Is it possible to cross the breeding to produce darker coloured cuckoo eggs?
Any imput is greatly appreciated.

 

[flgardengirl]

Haha! Maybe you could fence it off for them? Mine have taken over the whole nest box area in their perspective coops. All others, have to bed down on the far end of the small coop. I left a dog crate in the one run in case the younger ones were not going to be allowed into the larger coop. Glad I did!

Haha. The day play coop doesn't have a bottom on it. It just has sides and a top with some little windows covered in hardware cloth. I left the bottom out so they could dirt bathe. They also like to bury their eggs in the corner. Ever since that fox incident I make double sure everyone is locked up tight and then yesterday we had a belligerent neighbor who thought her dog had the right to run in my yard and chase our chickens and dig under my guinea pen!! I told this lady I would give her one chance and not call her in because it is a $250 fine if she promised not to let her dog come back over here again. I did this because I don't really wanna fight with the neighbors and for the sake of keeping the peace.
Well guess what? She started calling me a b**** Really??? Wow she is really a psycho. Geez time to move somewhere where people are normal lol.
Anyhow, our silkies have 3 nest boxes built into the back of their coop about 3 inches off the floor. They won't lay their eggs in them or go broody in them they only wanna sleep all crammed together in ONE of them LOL. They play how many silkies can cram into one nestbox and two end up on the floor in front of it every night. There is always a fight about who has to sleep outside the box and the roos aren't even nice and let the ladies in either haha.

 

[DMRippy]

I love the beautiful chocolate brown colour of Marans eggs.... I love the look of the cuckoo marans bird....

I have gotten some cuckoo, wheaten, black and blue eggs over the last couple of months and noticed that the cuckoo are not the darkest coloured eggs... (no offence to anyone I have gotten eggs from)

Is it possible to cross the breeding to produce darker coloured cuckoo eggs?
Any imput is greatly appreciated.

That is one of my projects in the cuckoos..... I am hoping I have some help in that department. I picked a roo up this weekend that was supposed to be SOLID Blue but he has cuckoo. He also has feathered legs and came from a darker egg than my Cuckoos lay. So he will be put with some of my pullets soon. I have 2 big fixes in the cuckoos.... egg color and leg feathering. I also will be working on type.... but I need a good crop to pick from first. I wish my Blue and Black Coppers laid eggs as BIG as the cuckoos... but after their first molt they might get bigger. Good Luck Hatching! (No offense taken ... cuckoos are typically lighter color but these are really not dark at all) BTW I got more reg cuckoos than blue cuckoos this last hatch.

 

[DMRippy]

Slick..... now with all the chicks that hatch with leg problems.... First I wrap vet wrap around their legs and see if they can walk after about a half day. Then if they are REALLY bad.... I put them in a cup and make sure they can't kick out. If you put a paper towel UNDER them they will push out. I put them in first and then a paper towel to keep them in. (BTW they still have the vet wrap on too). I leave them in there for a day and then USUALLY they can keep their feet under them and learn to walk with the vet wrap. I keep the vet wrap on for a few days till they are really sure footed.

I need to get pictures one day to show when needed. NEVER use newspaper. The shelf liner is great and can be washed.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I can buy some more if you think they are good birds..... 17 hrs left to buy....... most are developing too.... I am really surprised 10 out of 14 pretty good for shipped and BLRW too.

 

[slick4591]

Slick..... now with all the chicks that hatch with leg problems.... First I wrap vet wrap around their legs and see if they can walk after about a half day.   Then if they are REALLY bad.... I put them in a cup and make sure they can't kick out.  If you put a paper towel UNDER them they will push out.  I put them in first and then a paper towel to keep them in.  (BTW they still have the vet wrap on too).  I leave them in there for a day and then USUALLY they can keep their feet under them and learn to walk with the vet wrap.  I keep the vet wrap on for a few days till they are really sure footed.

I need to get pictures one day to show when needed.  NEVER use newspaper.  The shelf liner is great and can be washed.

Thank you. I'll pass this on. I knew about the vet wrap, but the cup is a new one and sounds like a great idea.

 

[SarniaTricia]

So Donna, do I cross the Blues and Blacks with the Cuckoos?
I have done alot of reading on breeding, but not done anything myself yet.

Thanks
Patricia