Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Debbi]

You know those seeds will predict the winter weather, right? We have gone by them the past 8 years and was only let down this past winter. It had been accurate up til then.
http://www.almanac.com/content/predicting-weather-using-persimmon-seed

Hi ya Slick!

Yes, we do that too. As you said, this year they were waaaay off. All the seeds I found were showing spoons, and I'll bet we only had a foot or less of snow all winter. How are all your chickens doing down there??

 

[slick4591]

They are hot, but still surviving. Just relocated about 20 OE's to a grow out pen this morning and have 3 Blue Copper Marans and 20 Ameraucanas eggs in the 'bator. Should start hatching Friday and will be the last until October or there about.

 

[Debbi]

Yes, very hot here too and humid. I forced myself to put the bator away until the fall. Until I can get some of the Silkies into new homes, all I have to do is look at my feed bill if I get tempted to hatch before then!

 

[DMRippy]

They are hot, but still surviving. Just relocated about 20 OE's to a grow out pen this morning and have 3 Blue Copper Marans and 20 Ameraucanas eggs in the 'bator. Should start hatching Friday and will be the last until October or there about.

Why October? just curios.... I hatched last fall and decided I would not hatch past Sept..... I could get those outside, any later they were kinda stuck in my shop till spring.

 

[gilavina]

august and september out this way can be just blistering hot...I dread august more than any month of the summer

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

We have wild persimmons here that are delicious! The first year we moved here I was told about them. Must be an inside country joke, cause I sure don't remember them telling me to only eat the ones that were really ripe or on the ground! Picked my first persimmon that looked a lovely, bright orange color right off the tree and took a bite.

Spit it out right quick too!! I thought I'd never get that taste out of my mouth!!! Had to relay the story the next work day to all those smart fannies that they must be CRAZY to think those things tasted good! You should've heard them laughing for the better part of the day!

Finally, someone clued me in...

We always wait until after the first frost to eat persimmons. Enhances the flavor!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I had a house full of chicks last winter-- master breeder had advised no fall hatching. I should have listened!! Summer hatched poults could handle the weather as they put on a bigger body by fall.

So I'm curious too?

august and september out this way can be just blistering hot...I dread august more than any month of the summer

I dread AUgust. THe hottest month, and school starts.

Quote: THere is another plant that makes a banana custard fruit--paw paw. May have another name. ANyone try or grow that one?

 

[slick4591]

Why October?  just curios.... I hatched last fall and decided I would not hatch past Sept..... I could get those outside, any later they were kinda stuck in my shop till spring.

Heat and room being the two reasons for me. I could move the date up if I get rid of some of the OE's. My SLW's are still small and I have them in a smaller pen at the moment and they are the priority birds for me right now. It won't be long until I have to move them, so I'm looking at having to relocate either my Marans or Ameraucanas in with the layers. Gotta talk my wife into letting me build more pens.

Our weather is pretty fair into the end of November, so I'm also taking that in account.

 

[Debbi]

Why October? just curios.... I hatched last fall and decided I would not hatch past Sept..... I could get those outside, any later they were kinda stuck in my shop till spring.

The heat is the reason for me too! September here can be ugly hot, by Oct., it usually settles down. I have my brooders inside in a closed room. I can open the door, or close it some to regulate the heat, and therefore acclimate them slowly to cooler temps. We usually get a mild stretch during the winter, so if it's going to be mild for a few nights, out they go! I like to keep the Marans chicks inside until they are at least 5 weeks, and the Silkies 6 weeks. I have had some clutches that due to the weather, had to stay in a few weeks longer. That was not as much fun, and a lot of work!

As to the fall chicks being smaller...I've never seen any difference in size or thriftiness yet.

 

[Debbi]

We always wait until after the first frost to eat persimmons. Enhances the flavor!

Yes, they usually don't get very ripe until a mild frost, but if we wait until they hit the ground, the deer and possums get 'em!