Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Arielle]

Quote: Yes.

 

[pinkchick]

They will be staying in these houses long enough to gather 10 or so eggs for single mating.

I suppose they could live in there for 2 weeks without trouble...I was going to return them to their homes for the night - ?? -

What does everyone recommend?

Everytime I have moved a bird in lay...they have always continued to lay for a couple of days after the move and then inevitably they take a break. The break in lay does not go on for long. They usually start back up in a couple of weeks. Heck, I don't even have to move them to get them to stop laying. They will take a break just because I make a change in their flock. They can be persnickity at times.

 

[Arielle]

Katelyn,

I keep my breeders in small condos like Donna built. A small coop and a small run. THis way they stay put for a long time. I do know of someone who keeps the hens in the same coop/run and moves the rooster everyday, don't remember what time of day, but always the same. HE said it was a PITA but stayed with it.

THats all I know. Love the crates.

 

[Cadeau]

yes, mine are pretty picky about the weather - not too hot and not too cold, has to be juuussssttt right!
(must be related to the 3 bears...

)

Hmm...well - I guess it won't hurt to leave them in the cages full time.

 

[Cadeau]

Arielle - that's exactly what I was hoping to buy.
The lady was selling/not selling/selling, etc. so I gave up on her...

The bunny house coop/run type is my FAVORITE for keeping the youngsters!

But...these are what I found, instead.
They're handmade by a man who was getting out of rabbits - coated hardware cloth.
I LOVE that they have trays!

Well...if the hens aren't happy in the cages on the shelving system, I could always put the cage inside their coop - ?? -
That way she'd be "home" but still inside the cage.

??

 

[Arielle]

I'm sure you will find a way to make it work. Looks like the birds would be completely safe from all predators except a bear!! LOL

 

[Cadeau]

Haha - the shelves will be inside my big grow out pen - not just free standing out in the world!

don't worry - I won't leave them outside in the elements!

 

[pwdhorn]

Thanks will do!

 

[pwdhorn]

Thanks hoping for the best.

 

[gilavina]

Hi Everyone! Thank you all for your kind words. You guys and gals here are the greatest ever!

We have not had any visitors or killings in the last couple of nights. Best of all, late evening last night as I was doing chores and locking everyone up...my oldest male Gander Ben came honking home. I thought I heard him the day before when I went on a trek through the property calling for them, hoping for survivors, just couldn't find him as he did not respond back to me like he normally does, so I told myself I was hearing things and gave up the search.
He has a few injuries up and down his neck, but they are very minor. He was very happy to get into the new make shift pen with his girl Daisy, the oldest Goose. She is happily honking and talking again this morning. Also, as of this morning she is no longer limping on her injured leg.
Bittersweet is that Aflac, the younger Gander is very happy to see his dad and talks and chatters to him, but he is still very sad.
Strangely enough since massacre night....the older geese (who I am sure resented me for taking away their goslings after Bill decided to cause ruckus and discontent their first night home) are now very accepting of the goslings. Until now they have wanted nothing to do with them except to give them a honk and bite for getting near them. LOL, this morning it was Newton (the male gosling) got right in Ben's face and gave him what for this morning for getting to close to his cement mixing tub that has his water in it. After he was done chastising Ben, he went straight off to give the goats a piece of his mind for being on the other side of his fence. He is a character.

Have been downsizing birds here even more. I now only have 32 birds total and that includes adults & juveniles.
I now have 9 Marans hens and pullets, 2 of which are Splash Copper pullets that should be coming up on point of lay very soon. Very excited to see their eggs. Darryl is raising the Birchen chicks and the rest of the Marans females are all still very broody. They are making me craZy! No eggs and then watch... these girls will go directly into a molt.

2 Blue Copper males, Lil' Bill and that young BL-Cpr cockerel that I shared a few weeks ago and a very young (4 week old) and lonely Black Copper cockerel. Have updated photos of the young blue copper cockerel and photos of the BCM chick. Will get those loaded son. Also have some current photos of the Birchen chicks.

Clown~ Congrats on your hatch! Love the blues!

Cad~ Nice pens.

Vicki~ I need that Luella girl!!!!!!!!!! I'll let you keep her for just awhile longer or until whenever I can get over there to get her.

*Wonders to self..... if one day you will ever cross that Gigantor boy over her and send your ol' pal Kimmee some of their eggs???*
I know, I know....I'll be waiting for a while until you are ready, but in the mean time.....I'm just sayin'.

for sure I'll be mating Luella to Gigantor and also to my alternate roo this next spring.... (maybe this fall, if it cools off) I am wanting to see what they produce and get them grown enough to show by april of next year) and also, to have culls to grow up and use for food through the colder months and into the spring. I'm trying to be smarter and prepping for the changes in prices. I have friends that give me scraps for my birds and it really makes a difference to be able to give them treats of greens and fruits in the winter. Of course they are armed with a chicken treat approved list.

I'll know if Luella ever goes missing, who I need to talk to! I can't wait to see if I can get some shots of these younger girls growing out that I still have to finish sorting. There are some nice prospects in there and more have color than not! None are quite as nice as Luella's color so far, but still very lovely!