Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Koolaid]

Hi ya'll, I've been on backyard chickens for a couple of years but I've just jumped into Marans. I'm a rookie and I hope ya'll don't mind a ton of dumb questions

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Thanks for all the replies!! I have a BCM girl and a friend is getting rid of a Cukoo roo so.... Was just wondering. I have read that the egg from the off spring will be lighter if I go that route.

If the Cuckoo is related to ladies that lay lighter eggs, then, yes, good chance you might need to work on egg colour. (But not all Cuckoos are laying a totally disrespectable egg at this point .... ) And if the Black Copper females you are bringing to the party lay a nice dark egg, you may well be off to a good start.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Hi ya'll, I've been on backyard chickens for a couple of years but I've just jumped into Marans. I'm a rookie and I hope ya'll don't mind a ton of dumb questions

Many of us ask "dumb" questions. Many others admire those that have the courage to ask 'em -- so bring 'em on!!!

 

[desertmarcy]

Here is Black Copper cockerel #12. Yes he is looking hot, 'cause he is hot! I was only able to get pics of one bird before my camera batteries died

 

[Arielle]

Thanks for all the replies!! I have a BCM girl and a friend is getting rid of a Cukoo roo so.... Was just wondering. I have read that the egg from the off spring will be lighter if I go that route.

The cuckoos I hatched were from much larger eggs than the eggs my BCM are providing. I wa pleasantly surprised how large the cuckoo eggs were. Buy maybe my BCM will increase in size after the next molt.

If you just want to enjoy the eggs, and the fun colors like the barring and reddish necks, and just work on egg color, have fun!

Hi ya'll, I've been on backyard chickens for a couple of years but I've just jumped into Marans. I'm a rookie and I hope ya'll don't mind a ton of dumb questions

I'm always asking questions, but I'll give you a hint, lots of goodies in the last 30,000 posts, take the time to read from the beginning, skim the extraneous and find the nuggets. I keep a separate word file of the nuggets.

 

[3riverschick]

DOGS AND ILAMAS AS POULTRY GUARDIANS


Training Anatolian Shepherd Dogs for Poultry Guarding
By Jennifer Floyd
http://www.anatoliandog.org/poultry.htm
----------------
Our Guide to Training Pyr's
http://www.milkandhoneyfarm.com/dogs/training.html
--------------------------------
about our livestock guard dogs
http://www.wagonwheelranch.org/guarddogs.htm
----------------------------------
Great Pyrenees Chicken and Livestock Guard Dogs
http://www.chickenlgds.com/
----------------------------
Can also try Great Pyrenees Rescue. LastI heard, they had dogs to place because of the economy.
---------------
"A llama will guard livestock
sheep, goats, free-range poultry etc
by their own natural protective instinct..."
Iowa State University studies of 337 farms show llamas
producing a stunning success rate as livestock protectors:
goat herds - 89%
poultry - 92%
sheep flocks - 93%
cattle herds – 100%
http://www.figmentranch.com/default.aspx?c=16&t=Guard+Llamas&k=
-----------------------------

 

[Mountain Mel]

I gave Elwood to a lady from Oregon. I told her to get on here and look for pinkchick. It's a sweltering 72 degrees here...overcast with cool evenings & mornings. Sounds like it might be a semi-wet weekend. The barn addition is done. ( idoubled the previous square footage) and I recently bought a Yamaha 660 Grizzly Outdoorsman four-wheeler. Life is good!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: One note here YES they would be mutts in my mind, but you can make sex links with them. I have cuckoos with gold leakage and I could make sex link coppers BUT I would only sell them as layers. To make sex links the HEN must be barred and the roo solid (BCM is ok) and all the roos will be barred at hatch. BUT they would not be real cuckoos in my mind because of the gold/copper they will have. Reg cuckoos should not have that.

If someone answered that already sorry... I didn't read to the end to reply.

 

[DMRippy]

I gave Elwood to a lady from Oregon. I told her to get on here and look for pinkchick. It's a sweltering 72 degrees here...overcast with cool evenings & mornings. Sounds like it might be a semi-wet weekend. The barn addition is done. ( idoubled the previous square footage) and I recently bought a Yamaha 660 Grizzly Outdoorsman four-wheeler. Life is good!

Mel!

on 72...... I don't even have a clue how hot it was today! (over 100 I am sure) I just know my poor Blue Barred Rocks look HOT.... SO EXTRA WATER PANS FOR EVERYONE!

some decided it looked good enough to walk in too!

We worked on my house today and it never really cooled down much, not too bad at 77.... better than working with chickens with NO AC. Tomorrow it will be hotter and what am I doing.... WORKING WITH CHICKENS! My roo guy want to meet so he can get my little roos

I may have to go for a dip in the creek tomorrow!

 

[Koolaid]

I got a bunch of Marans from a "breeder" that said they were Blue Coppers. I'll post some pics of them so maybe ya'll can help me identify them - Based on everything I've seen looking all over the internet at everyone's Marans sites and etc, looks like I have 2 Blue roosters, 4 blue hens, 2 blue copper hens and 1 blue splash. But I'd sure like ya'lls opinion. Also, most people tell me that if mine don't have feathered legs then they are not Marans - I'm under the impression that the feathers on the legs is the French line and non feathers is an American version - is that true ?

Thanks ya'll

(anyone in the Gulf Coast - La, Ms, Al area?)