Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[heath_elisha]

Glad to hear you finally got some rain Debbi! It is raining like crazy here right now. I still have the broody sitting on eggs. Only three hatched so far........ today is day 22/23. The hubby wants to start cracking open eggs- when do you all think is a good time??? I am terrified of opening them too soon..... they were all set at the same time, so one would think they would all hatch around the same time..... .but they have me waiting. I would think that the broody would abandon the eggs if they were not alive, right?? We did have to remove the three chicks from her yesterday too. She was not paying too much attention to the third chick that hatched. It seems to have something wrong- kinda like one wing is higher on it's back making it loose balance? But it has made HUGE progress since this morning and is eating, drinking and running around finally on it's own. Still slightly wobbly- but certainly better. No more on it's back spinning in circles! I am so happy that I have some more blues though.... better not both be roosters!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NTBugtraq]

Ok, so Hi there, newbie amongst ya. I started reading this thread on post #1 (which I soon realized wasn't #1, but I could read anything of that past thread) and got to the end of page one and noticed 39,061 unread posts...yikes!

So no, I'm not going to read them all...;-]

When I started my chicken journey in January, I don't know why, but I quickly identified BCM's as my bread of choice. Further research convinced me that Marans, not just BCM's, were equally worthy of my preference. I've put off getting my flock going (~40 birds is my goal) until my new house was finished, which didn't happen until a couple of weeks ago. Now the problem seems to be finding Maran chicks.

I'm up here in Ontario Canada (Kirkfield) and I've only found one hatchery, Performance Poultry, who even list Marans as being available (and PP is done producing for the year.)

So, a question to you Maran lovers...has anyone successfully shipped Marans to/or received in, Ontario Canada? I know our "cartel" system is pretty dumb and makes it hard, but are there legal reasons day olds can't be shipped up here? Are there additional issues to getting day olds across the border? Are there any hatcheries (other than PP) who sell Marans (hopefully still, now in 8/5/2012)??

Finally, while I know this is the Maran thread, if it seems I can't get any Marans this year, what other bread would you suggest is the closest to them in terms of their temperment, vitality, and requirements for maintaining so I can at least be ready for Marans next year?

Cheers,
Russ

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Ok, so Hi there, newbie amongst ya. I started reading this thread on post #1 (which I soon realized wasn't #1, but I could read anything of that past thread) and got to the end of page one and noticed 39,061 unread posts...yikes!

So no, I'm not going to read them all...;-]

When I started my chicken journey in January, I don't know why, but I quickly identified BCM's as my bread of choice. Further research convinced me that Marans, not just BCM's, were equally worthy of my preference. I've put off getting my flock going (~40 birds is my goal) until my new house was finished, which didn't happen until a couple of weeks ago. Now the problem seems to be finding Maran chicks.

I'm up here in Ontario Canada (Kirkfield) and I've only found one hatchery, Performance Poultry, who even list Marans as being available (and PP is done producing for the year.)

So, a question to you Maran lovers...has anyone successfully shipped Marans to/or received in, Ontario Canada? I know our "cartel" system is pretty dumb and makes it hard, but are there legal reasons day olds can't be shipped up here? Are there additional issues to getting day olds across the border? Are there any hatcheries (other than PP) who sell Marans (hopefully still, now in 8/5/2012)??

Finally, while I know this is the Maran thread, if it seems I can't get any Marans this year, what other bread would you suggest is the closest to them in terms of their temperment, vitality, and requirements for maintaining so I can at least be ready for Marans next year?

Cheers,
Russ

Russ, there are a couple of us here in Canada (Ontario) working with VERY nice Marans - I have Black and Blue Coppers and I know of another lady in Guelph working with some VERY nice imported stock as well. And I know we aren't the only ones. (Avoid the hatcheries. Been stung by hatcheries. They claim to be selling stuff that isn't necessarily what they claim it is.)

Feel free to PM me and I'll provide more info ....

Edited to add -- Welcome to BYC!!

 

[farmgirl78]

We had 5 little ones hatch out last night and today 3 blues abd 2 black!! We're very excited to have the blues this is only our 2nd hatch and were feeling pretty good. All have feathered legs too...

 

[laughingclown]

Congrats on everyone elses hatches. Im sad. I need to put one of my chicks down tomorrow. Its not doing well at all. They hatched this past Tue and all of the other chicks are almost twice its size. Even the other runt is doing better. It has almost half a body. It has a hard time going poo. Hardly eats, drinks or walk around. When it does walk it woddles like a penguin. I feel so bad for it. I should have followed my gut and put it down days ago. I just was hoping it would come around. This is a chick I helped during hatching. I will not do that again, no matter how hard it is. I think its hard because Marans are still new to me and the money I put to eggs and birds is crazy. But I know what I have to do.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

so sorry laughing clown. I wish you strength.

 

[laughingclown]

Well I did it. I didnt want wait till tomorrow. Very hard to do. I dont know why. I have hunted for most of my life. But as I get older Im valuing life more. I hope I dont have to do that again anytime soon. Goodnight everyone.

 

[Arielle]

Congrats on everyone elses hatches. Im sad. I need to put one of my chicks down tomorrow. Its not doing well at all. They hatched this past Tue and all of the other chicks are almost twice its size. Even the other runt is doing better. It has almost half a body. It has a hard time going poo. Hardly eats, drinks or walk around. When it does walk it woddles like a penguin. I feel so bad for it. I should have followed my gut and put it down days ago. I just was hoping it would come around. This is a chick I helped during hatching. I will not do that again, no matter how hard it is. I think its hard because Marans are still new to me and the money I put to eggs and birds is crazy. But I know what I have to do.

I have helped hatching chicks, poults and ducks, and often it has turned out well. Sometimes not. You have a good heart. You gave the chick a chance; and putting it down is always hard. You'll do it when you are ready. Never easy.

 

[DMRippy]

Well I did it. I didnt want wait till tomorrow. Very hard to do. I dont know why. I have hunted for most of my life. But as I get older Im valuing life more. I hope I dont have to do that again anytime soon. Goodnight everyone.

 

[Debbi]

Well I did it. I didnt want wait till tomorrow. Very hard to do. I dont know why. I have hunted for most of my life. But as I get older Im valuing life more. I hope I dont have to do that again anytime soon. Goodnight everyone.

Yes, same here. It's the bringing them to life, only to put them down, plus the hands on effect. I can shoot deer and turkey all day long, clean and gut, no problem. Can't seem to butcher my own chickens!

I had to put down one tiny chick so far, and it was indeed a hard thing to do...