Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

I finally got around to taking more pics of this "Blue Copper" Marans cockerel, he is 6 months old. If he is pure blue, then his wing triangle should be blue, is that right? So what do you all think? I am trying to breed pure blue coppers, so if he doesn't fit the bill---he is up for grabs if anybody wants him or freezer camp. I don't have the pen space for any test matings with him, although I do think he is pretty and so far he has not been too much of a PINA, although he did beat up his Delaware pen mate, even though they were raised together, and bloodied the Delaware's comb and head--so I had to separate them.

He is a pretty boy, but like Lenette said, he may be a cross of a Blue Copper with a Blue Wheaten. Quite a bit of a lacing affect going on there too, don't know what that's about? If he were a Blue Copper, yes, his wing triangle would be blue.

 

[Debbi]

Ok, Silkie chicked hatched, with, get this, 32% humidity in the bator, and the humidity level never rose to hurt the other eggs?? Came out of that egg like gangbusters, no stickiness, and no problems! Took him out of the bator and put him in a little box under a light to dry, then ran him out to the coop. Stuck him in behind one of the hens while she was looking the other way, and into the fluff he went! Easy peezy! I think I'm already liking the broodies!

 

[NuAgePaulBunyun]

congrats to all ... funny thing is ... as i read; i see the reference "hatchers" and keep thinking you are referring to me as my last name is Hatcher. guess i was redetermined for this new adventure my soulmate and i have set off for. Chickens are now getting big, but no eggs yet. keep peeking inside the coop every morning as i let them free, but nothing yet. keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the eggs to start dropping soon.

i have done a lot of upgrades to the run and coop since my last post. this thing is as tight as fort knox now. and the new tach-light on my 45 carbine ( i know overkill , but between the traps and the loudness they seem to keep the other predators away temporarily at least ) is helping me keep an easy mind when i peek outside under the moon and see nothing stirring up my babies.

when should i expect our Roosters to start calling out in the morning. they are starting to get a bit louder but nothing like what i expect . no morning cock-a-doo-dal-doooo's ... i know its just a simple sound , but to us it is something we seek for self - gratification in this quest.

 

[Peach2u]

Yes he can wait. He has till fall. That's when I start thinning the flock for chicken vs feed cost. I'm keeping all the girls till they lay and any EE brown layers will go. And going down to 1 ee rooster and 1 BlCM rooster.

 

[Flowerbh]

Wouldn't you be able to tell if they were going to lay brown eggs by weather or not they have single combs or pea combs? (Newbee trying to learn) Thanks

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Ok, Silkie chicked hatched, with, get this, 32% humidity in the bator, and the humidity level never rose to hurt the other eggs?? Came out of that egg like gangbusters, no stickiness, and no problems! Took him out of the bator and put him in a little box under a light to dry, then ran him out to the coop. Stuck him in behind one of the hens while she was looking the other way, and into the fluff he went! Easy peezy! I think I'm already liking the broodies!

Congratulations, Debbi! Very exciting!! (I'm still promoting pictures ....

)

(Can't help but wonder if stickiness has something to do with how long they take to get out of the egg .... if they pip and get to zipping in a timely fashion - all goes well. If they pip and sleep for 2 days, they stick???)

 

[Hens and Roos]

Wouldn't you be able to tell if they were going to lay brown eggs by weather or not they have single combs or pea combs? (Newbee trying to learn) Thanks

Not always, usually the pea comb and blue egg color go together. Ear lobe color for the most part tells what color egg you will get- white ear lobe = white egg and red ear lobe = brown egg but there are exceptions to this such as the blue egg and olive egg colors.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Katelyn, Any luck on the Sportsman? Piggies are cute! And smelly... And eating machines! How're yours? When do they wean?

Debbi, I won't be getting a tomato until AUGUST! And then... Lebanon Bologna and Tomato sandwiches!

7 days till hatch day. 2 Marans eggs here, and 4 at my son's school!!

I also have an OE that lays a brown egg . But she's so stinking cute, she's forgiven... Although she's technically not an OE anymore, is she?

 

[Flowerbh]

Barneyseggs, does your OE have a single comb?

 

[Cadeau]

Martha - nope - no replies, either here or on Marans of America...

Yep - I think the stinkiest stink of stinks is pig....
My SO loves them, though and they do become pets, liking to be petted and scratched and running when you whistle

Let's see - that first litter has another month to go
The litters from last week and this past weekend have 2ish months

Then, they'll just go out on pasture or get sold
(we barrow them @2 wks old, as well)

forgot to ask - did you make sure your boys are barrowed...(gelded, neutered, wethered, etc.)

Here's another new one for you - your boys (should be) are Barrows and your girls are Gilts

Good luck on your hatch....I have some coming, but not sure how it's going to go, since they were hanging sideways with that broken turner.....


Flower - my brown egg laying OE (from a Blue Wheaten EE and a BCM roo) has a pea comb....