Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Arielle]

Well, I sold the last of my Barred Rocks so that frees up a pen. Sad to see them go. They have been good and one of them was my favorite. It seems lately that I have gotten rid of all the chickens that give me the time of day. But now that I decided to step out from this just being a hobby and into a business, Im trying not to think about it. Now as I typically have hatched chicks in the spring what are the dos and donts at this time of the year? Getting eggs in a few days so I need to prepare. In March I needed a heat lamp, now its hot as heck out. The coops seem hotter thank god I have fans for them. So I take it there is no need for lamps? Whats the top temp where healthy chicks and chickens start to die?

Have you read the last 2 weeks of posts here? If not, I would start there. The people who post here on the Marans thread live in different parts of the US and experience different weather.

My weather is in the 80-90's this summer. I let my crew free range, and can find plent of water and shade in the woods. Trees do a remarkable job of taking up the heat. Shade shade shade.

My breeder birds are in a shady area, not in the direct sun.

Some of my birds ( mixed flock of mutts and purebreds) pant and others don't seem bothered. I don't feed during the heat of the day, as the run for treats. I try to give wet cold fruit like watermelon; and have cut up bananas in the freezer ready for the next 100 degree day. ALso depends on the breeze, Still and hot is tough. Feed early morning and just before sunset.

This is what I do. THe actual temp is not so important as how your birds handle the heat.

 

[laughingclown]

Have you read the last 2 weeks of posts here? If not, I would start there. The people who post here on the Marans thread live in different parts of the US and experience different weather.

My weather is in the 80-90's this summer. I let my crew free range, and can find plent of water and shade in the woods. Trees do a remarkable job of taking up the heat. Shade shade shade.

My breeder birds are in a shady area, not in the direct sun.

Some of my birds ( mixed flock of mutts and purebreds) pant and others don't seem bothered. I don't feed during the heat of the day, as the run for treats. I try to give wet cold fruit like watermelon; and have cut up bananas in the freezer ready for the next 100 degree day. ALso depends on the breeze, Still and hot is tough. Feed early morning and just before sunset.

This is what I do. THe actual temp is not so important as how your birds handle the heat.

Well my birds are getting by so far. Been raising chickens for over a year. So I know they need shade ect. But my question is more for raising chicks than anything. Its obviously different than the coolness of spring. You take adults for example. I think they cope better. They know how to dig in the ground to stay cool and know to seek shade chicks may not. So there are differences.

 

[laughingclown]

Hens and Roos - thanks I hope someone chimes in. I would like to start a flock.

If your trying to find some Columbian Marans the only person that would know where there is some would be Bev Davis.

 

[Arielle]

Well my birds are getting by so far. Been raising chickens for over a year. So I know they need shade ect. But my question is more for raising chicks than anything. Its obviously different than the coolness of spring. You take adults for example. I think they cope better. They know how to dig in the ground to stay cool and know to seek shade chicks may not. So there are differences.

I have 50 chicks about 2 months in an outside brooder, in the shade. Upper half is open so they sit on the roosts up there to catch a breeze.Finishing run so they can spread out more in a shady area. Keep the litter dry.

I have 4th of July chicks under a heat lamp in the house. ANd another 50 chicks in a bathroom--no AC, just a fan running in the ceiling.

A broody showed up the other day with 13 in tow. THey knew to run to the brambles to avoid capture. I'm sure they would know to go there for coolness. For safety I moved them to the duck house, and the ducks got moved to a plastic dog crate at night. Ventilation a must. All under the trees.

Have many water pans around so everyone can get enough water. Some are bossy and prevent those lower on the pecking order from drinking.

Is this more helpful?

 

[Mountain Mel]

Pinkchick...I have been taking the eggs from my broodies.

I don't want any chicks this year. Maybe next year I will stick quail, chuckar, or pheasant eggs under them. Too much other stuff going on right now. Monday I will start jacking up the house to replace the bottom logs that show rot.

I just got home with an 11,000 BTU/hr air conditioner for the shop. Since the shop is insulated, I'm hoping that this keeps Tippy & I chillin'

during this heat wave that we are experiencing. That and LOTSA' barley-pop!

 

[laughingclown]

Yeah it helps. I wasnt planning on hatching anymore eggs this year but the Marans bug has caught me. Right now the ones I have are 3 months old and I have culled a lot. So that being said I dont have that many. Some of those I dont think I will use. So I decided to get more so they are the oldest I could get them by next spring. Then I can use all my birds to replenish the culls I make. I think my best option is to put them in my basement again for a couple of weeks until the heat passes if its still hot. It will be a month yet anyway. My Wife does NOT like me having the chickens In the house though. Thats if the even hatch. Checked the humidity in the house and it was 40% so if I do this I wont be adding any water. I think if the moisture drops I will just spritz the eggs down once a day. This would only be my 3rd hatch. 2nd time with Marans eggs. The first time I tried none hatched. They were shipped eggs from MPC. Whats weird was all but 2 of my eggs hatched. So I will try again.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Just checking. 24-30 INCHES or FEET?

that is 24 to 30 inches so that you can reach the back of the cage to remove eggs or birds

 

[Hens and Roos]

Well, I sold the last of my Barred Rocks so that frees up a pen. Sad to see them go. They have been good and one of them was my favorite. It seems lately that I have gotten rid of all the chickens that give me the time of day. But now that I decided to step out from this just being a hobby and into a business, Im trying not to think about it. Now as I typically have hatched chicks in the spring what are the dos and donts at this time of the year? Getting eggs in a few days so I need to prepare. In March I needed a heat lamp, now its hot as heck out. The coops seem hotter thank god I have fans for them. So I take it there is no need for lamps? Whats the top temp where healthy chicks and chickens start to die?

for one thing the weather is hotter depending on where you live, you might have more issues keeping the temp and humidity steady in the incubator. I just hatched a group here 2 weeks ago and have just a 25 watt red bulb on them but they can move away from it as needed- which they are doing the past couple of days.

We have been keeping a small fan going in our coop to help circulate the air- this seems to be a important step in helping the chickens stay comfortable. Not sure about the temp, we have been doing okay here the last week with the hotter than normal weather. Keeping air movement is helping. Good Luck!

 

[Arielle]

Yeah it helps. I wasnt planning on hatching anymore eggs this year but the Marans bug has caught me. Right now the ones I have are 3 months old and I have culled a lot. So that being said I dont have that many. Some of those I dont think I will use. So I decided to get more so they are the oldest I could get them by next spring. Then I can use all my birds to replenish the culls I make. I think my best option is to put them in my basement again for a couple of weeks until the heat passes if its still hot. It will be a month yet anyway. My Wife does NOT like me having the chickens In the house though. Thats if the even hatch. Checked the humidity in the house and it was 40% so if I do this I wont be adding any water. I think if the moisture drops I will just spritz the eggs down once a day. This would only be my 3rd hatch. 2nd time with Marans eggs. The first time I tried none hatched. They were shipped eggs from MPC. Whats weird was all but 2 of my eggs hatched. So I will try again.

Spritzing isn't recommended. Unless duck eggs. ?40% is in the incubator, or the room %RH? If the room, that is good, if incubator, that is probably too high. Did you open the eggs that did not hatch? Were they watery?? I incubate at a much lower %RH--right now 35% and I'm have trouble with watery eggs and not drying enough. Need DH to move the awkward dehumidifier from the basement to the 2nd floor bedroom. I'm sure he'll do it for his duck eggs!!

I usually have better hatches at 20-30, and it bounces around based on the weather from 18-35 usually. It's crept up with the summer humidity.

 

[laughingclown]

Spritzing isn't recommended. Unless duck eggs. ?40% is in the incubator, or the room %RH? If the room, that is good, if incubator, that is probably too high. Did you open the eggs that did not hatch? Were they watery?? I incubate at a much lower %RH--right now 35% and I'm have trouble with watery eggs and not drying enough. Need DH to move the awkward dehumidifier from the basement to the 2nd floor bedroom. I'm sure he'll do it for his duck eggs!!

I usually have better hatches at 20-30, and it bounces around based on the weather from 18-35 usually. It's crept up with the summer humidity.

I havent got the eggs yet. I think Im picking them up Tuesday. The room has 40% humidity right now. Hopefully I will be able to get it down in the bator.