Marans Thread for Posting Pics of Your Eggs, Chicks and Chickens

[NewHen]

Quote:
I WISH THEY WERE FEMALES! Here's the pullet from the same hatch. One of the presumed roos crowed once already but I'm not sure which one. If you guys really think they still might be females, I'll hang onto them for longer, though the ones with the wattles and combs are starting to fight.

 

[geebs]

Hens fight too... I wouldn't cull until I see saddle color.... really...

One of my pullets last year. they can have really big combs.. Some of my hens combs are as big as the roos when they are young.... What line do you have or do you know????

I just play it safe and wait for the crowing or saddle color.. My guess is on the last pic.... the one on my right looks rooey, but the other one is smaller with short legs... This one looks suspiciously like a hen...

I could be wrong but it is really the best practice to MAKE SURE.... I believe in the beginning I culled hens by mistake...

 

[geebs]

One more thing...Your question..

In order to know what rooster to use... you need to know what you have... w/o the colors coming in you have no idea which one is better than the other.. Until they are much more mature you will not have an idea of which is the most ideal for your flock...I will tell you this also: Always carry a spare...Nothing like losing your prized rooster... If you are planning to keep a closed flock it is a must... That way the genetics are still available in case something unforeseen happens... Can't wait to see them as they mature...You goals are important and personal...You will need to decide what the goals are and what the hens look like in order to best choose the rooster to compliment then.

 

[flgardengirl]

I agree you should wait as long as you can before choosing. With mine, the darkest ones have usually ended up with the best color but sometimes they take a while to show it. The ones with a lot of copper early on have usually developed too much copper by 5 mos or so.

 

[Debbi]

Ok all you Marans pros, today is my first hatch day! 12 BCM eggs. Last night, day 20, one started to peep. Good. This morning I awoke to one peeping loudly and a small pip on one. The pip did not look like it broke the shell, just kind of made a triangular shaped, outward dent, with a very faint hairline crack. That was at 7am cst, this morning. This afternoon, the outward dent now looks like it has settled back down, and is now just a white triangle. Still peeping going on, but I can't tell which one is doing it. I'm thinking now that I've heard three different voices, so I believe that 3 have broken the membrane. Day 21 won't be complete till 6pm tonight. Did this chick decide it wasn't ready to come out yet?? Still hearing peeps and scratching, but like I said, not sure who is doing it. Sure don't want to open the bator at this point, any suggestions for this "almost" new, nervous mother to be??

Debbi

 

[halo]

It can take every bit of 24 hours from pip to "here I am!", and even longer, so as long as you have your temps and humidity range right, I think you'll be just fine.

 

[flgardengirl]

It probably made its little pip and is now resting and absorbing its egg yolk. A lot of them will pip and then rest, sometimes even a day or so. If you pull it out before it absorbs its yolk sac you will have more problems plus could jepardize the other eggs by opening the bator this early. It is nerve wracking

You gotta find something to do to distract yourself lol.

 

[Debbi]

Well, I've since had a second pip, and now the first one is pipping again at the same hole! It's flapping like a screen door in the wind!

The temp is riding at 100-100.5, the humidity is staying between 66-69. Had to run the shower a few times to get the ambient humidity back up, so then it rises in the bator. Of ll the days for the outside temps and humidity to drop...sheesh. Thanks for your help. I will back away from the bator so no one gets hurt! lol

 

[geebs]

Best advice.... DONT OPEN THE BATOR!!!!!

We are with you in spirit... Sending ooodles of hatchie vibes.... majical hatchie vibes.

 

[Debbi]

Thanks for the good vibes! I need all the help I can get. I PROMISE, I WON'T open the bator!!!!

Why can't they make a bator like a bead blasting cabinet?? You know, with the gloves that go into the box?? That way you could interfere, ah I mean help, without opening the bator!