Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

Here is my question of the day. I have read a couple threads now about chicks not thriving. A couple out of a whole batch. ANd most times it has been marans. I'm wondering why this is and how can I as a breeder help make sure my chicks stay healthy when I sell them. Has anyone else noticed chicks not thriving, eating and running but not growing as well as the others??

Knock on wood...I've never had that problem. So far, the only chicks (2) that have died here had to be put down due to a deformity. Everyone else in both breeds has thrived. What are you feeding? As for selling the chicks, make sure to tell your customer what you feed, how to house them, worming schedules, etc. That's about all you can do, it's then up to the new owners.

 

[gilavina]

Here is my question of the day. I have read a couple threads now about chicks not thriving. A couple out of a whole batch. ANd most times it has been marans. I'm wondering why this is and how can I as a breeder help make sure my chicks stay healthy when I sell them. Has anyone else noticed chicks not thriving, eating and running but not growing as well as the others??

If anything, my marans are the fastest and healthiest growers I have here. Occasionally one that hatches late or one that gets stuck in a shell during incubation won't do as well, but overall, once they are out of the hatcher, they are little growing machines around here

 

[unkadan]

as requested a couple of pics of my Birchen roo,,,,wind is gusty and he is going through a molt @ 12wks, bred from a Blue Birchen roo over BCM hen



With a sibling pullet,



another sib pullet the sun off her back throws color off a bit



these birds have a some changing to come,,,,whatcha think?

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Quote: Sounds like its a rare event. My own chicks grew like weeds, faster than any other birds I had. Thanks for your advice.

 

[slick4591]

 The little oinkers! How much did you make, for how many? 

I only gave 11 one yolk. Guess I should made it a dozen.

 

[calamityfarm]

The eggs actually came from Missouri!

 

[coolcanoechic]

Anyone ever seen such big dark eyes on a cockerel?

 

[Debbi]

Anyone ever seen such big dark eyes on a cockerel?

Most of that looks like pupil to me, plus he is still very young. Now, if they are not the correct color by 7-8 months old, I personally would not use him in my Marans pen. There are certain faults that just irk the tar out of me, and dark eyes is one of them! The others are: BAD combs!, poor wing carriage, wry or squirrel tails, and clean shanks/toes. All that goes without saying that they also need a good solid, deep and wide body as well. Gees, I'm not picky at all huh?

 

[coolcanoechic]

Most of that looks like pupil to me, plus he is still very young. Now, if they are not the correct color by 7-8 months old, I personally would not use him in my Marans pen. There are certain faults that just irk the tar out of me, and dark eyes is one of them! The others are: BAD combs!, poor wing carriage, wry or squirrel tails, and clean shanks/toes. All that goes without saying that they also need a good solid, deep and wide body as well. Gees, I'm not picky at all huh?

Ha ha

I still think he's a pretty boy! I'm sure he will grow into a magnificent roo. He is only 9 weeks old. He will not be breeding though. He is watching over my brother's girls. The feathering on his legs looks pretty good. How does the rest of him look so far?

 

[Debbi]

Ha ha

I still think he's a pretty boy! I'm sure he will grow into a magnificent roo. He is only 9 weeks old. He will not be breeding though. He is watching over my brother's girls. The feathering on his legs looks pretty good. How does the rest of him look so far?

Oh, don't misunderstand me, I didn't mean he had all those faults! Those are just a few of the things that I've come across here, and they bother me. At 9 weeks, he is looking pretty good. Keep in mind, a lot can and will change in the next few months. The real only thing I see right now is a bit too much red on the breast. That may go or it may stay, or may get worse. I like his frame, he has a nice long back and nice tail set, and properly feathered shanks/toes. The last pic shows a potential wing problem. See the split in the wing? Is it he just ruffled out and ran with his wing funny, or if you fan his wing out, does it look like there is a missing feather? If it's missing, that may be what they call a "split wing", and is a DQ (in any breed). Now being so young, he may have a feather that hasn't come in yet, but check it to see now, and then check again in a month or so. I had my first roo here that had that problem. I noticed it at 6 weeks, and it never changed.