Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Cadeau]

Morning all!

So glad the heat is going down - really helps my mare feel better...

Vicki - so sorry about your eggs and little screamer.
Do you have a broody you can stick him under?

Martha - good morning!
How's the piggies? Not long now!!

 

[desertmarcy]

For those of you who process your extras do you find that there is enough meat on the birds besides the breast meat to do a full out process? We find that with some of the breeds we have that there is no meat to the thighs and such unless the bird is over 1 year old. Just wondering

Congrats on being able to process your own birds! DH and I both process but it took a few times to get the process down. Our oldest doesn't like to watch so she will help out by doing chores but our 2 boys are right there watching- most of the time we have to tell them to stand back a little. We have not purchased store package chicken in over 1.5 years now. The kids have no problem eating the meat and love it in pot pies.

Over a year old? Oh no, they have plenty of meat before then. I even process the small birds that I am not keeping. There is not a lot of meat on those, but I grew up in a family that did not waste food, and I still hate to waste anything. I also keep the liver, heart, and gizzard. I used to freeze the liver along with the birds (when they where going into the freezer and not being eaten right away), but now when I process a bunch, I pool all the livers and make liverwurst. I found a recipe I like off the internet and it is wonderful and I really like liverwurst sandwiches for lunch. All those little chicken livers add up! I usually end up with a pound of uncooked livers or close to it each time I process a group.

 

[gilavina]

Oh, that stinks, so sorry. Maybe you should call / e-mail him and let him know now you will be wanting more in the future? Did you do an eggtopsy?

haha...I was too scared to do an egg topsy with the stink. I didn't want to have an egg explode in my hands or on my face. I did listen to hear any movement or sounds, checked for pips and nothing at all. I emailed him just a bit ago before I ran out to do chores and we'll see what he has to say. I think I might try this fall when the temps are more stable and they have less chance of frying in transit in this heat. Its a strong possibility it might be a factor in the shipping process along with there being eggs busted when I opened them.

 

[gilavina]

Morning all!

So glad the heat is going down - really helps my mare feel better...

Vicki - so sorry about your eggs and little screamer.
Do you have a broody you can stick him under?

Martha - good morning!
How's the piggies? Not long now!!

the only broody I have left is the one I've nicknamed 'babykiller' She won't take anyone else's babies, and kills any that get near her that aren't hers. I'm currently trying to break her of being broody so I can sell her as a layer since her comb is not as good as some of the others I have.

 

[Cadeau]

the only broody I have left is the one I've nicknamed 'babykiller' She won't take anyone else's babies, and kills any that get near her that aren't hers. I'm currently trying to break her of being broody so I can sell her as a layer since her comb is not as good as some of the others I have.

on the stinky eggtopsy!!
Maybe you can candle? or are you scared to even touch them? ick.

Oh boy - don't give him to her, then!!
I'd lend you one, but I'm too far away!
I have 2 cochins on one nest and a BCM on one, and a Blue CM on another (in the garden!)

 

[Cadeau]

Took some pics today of some of my young cockerels:

These are the 3 guys you saw exactly a month ago:
(I think they're in the same order)

Cockerel #1


His leg feathers are better than they were, but still not down the outer toe and not my normal street sweeper


Right now, not liking how abrubtly his tail leaves his back...and the fuzzies at the base of his tail

Cockerel #2
He's the youngest by a month




Cockerel #3




This guy is right in the middle - 2wks younger than #1, 2wks older than #2

He has street sweepers with no middle toe feathers or fuzz, like #2
He's hard to get a pic of b/c he likes to be in my lap!

I don't think I've posted this guy - he's out with my free rangers






What say ye?
My heart isn't set on any of them!

Anyone, pretty please??
I'm planning to send a bunch to the processing lady....

 

[Debbi]

Katelyn, I think Don and Donna replied a few pages back? As for me, I really dislike the dark eyes, that is just a major pet peeve of mine. There seem to be some combs issues in there too, some look to have sprigs, all look to have wrinkles. Out of all of them, I like the free range boy the best as far as the body goes, but if he were here he would go too, if for no other reason than the dark eyes. JMO for what it's worth. Some would think my reasoning silly, but we all have to choose what we like to look at, and bad combs and dark eyes are right there at the top of the list for me. Pick and choose your battles...

 

[gilavina]

Well Rod's being super about it and he'll ship eggs to me again when things cool down a bit for the cost of the shipping. I can't even tell you how much of a relief it is to know I can try again here in a couple of months if the weather behaves

 

[Debbi]

Well Rod's being super about it and he'll ship eggs to me again when things cool down a bit for the cost of the shipping. I can't even tell you how much of a relief it is to know I can try again here in a couple of months if the weather behaves

Good deal! I had a feeling that might be the case, glad it came out ok for you. Now all you have to do is wait!!!!

 

[Debbi]

Does anyone in here also raise LF Dark Brahmas?