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

[BoerneChickens]

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Cadbury (the hen I suspect laid them) was 23 weeks old yesterday. She is much larger than her EE buddies that are the same age. I was so shocked to see them - I don't even have the nest box in the hen house yet. I was planning to put it in next weekend - I'm glad I got around to building it this last Saturday (pics on my blog - link in my signature)! Im so excited - I have EGGS! YAY!

 

[geebs]

Has anyone noticed how many Darn posts we have!!!??? Geebs is back from the dead... ha ha...

Been swamped here... Nice weather here in Oregon... Finally. Birds are doing great... Eggs great... BHB's growing up.... No eggs in the bator....LIFE IS SWEEEEET.... Oh and Congrats on the GC's (you know who you are!!!

) Love seeing everyones Posts... Thanks Wynette for the update!!!! Been doing some HEAVY Culling.... Probably winter 10 birds overall... Daughter took the eggies to the local 4h fair and guess what??? he he Grand Champion... (go figure!!) Muah ha ha ha!!!

 

[kathyinmo]

I did notice that your post number is my birthday ..... sorta .... 8-22 is my bday!

Welcome back. I missed ya!

Congrats to the daughter, as well !

 

[geebs]

Happy Birthday (in advance... CRS disease) .... I do hope your Marans take notice and lay a good Birthday egg!!

 

[kathyinmo]

Well, I do hope so, too!

So, you are only gonna winter about 10 huh? I am thinking that may be a good number for me, as well. Now, for the chicks .... hmmm, sure can not cut them too soon.

 

[haTHOR]

geebs, i posted a few pics earlier today of that possible pullet/roo we were discussing the other day. everyone seems as confused about the sex as i am! if you get a chance to take a look, holler or reply.

and i remember fondly the time when i had just ten birds. that was before i incubated 42 eggs, before i sold 5 of them and promptly bought some FCBMs when i found them local, before i scooped up some CMs from a local lady, before i had a broody and just "HAD" to provide her with some MORE day old FCBMs. good for you! now i am to the point where i am realizing i'll need TWO new coops soon, once these teens grow out.

 

[berkeleysprings]

i will have some wheaten eggs in a month or so , my birds slowed down laying but i dont sell chicks , and started birds are pick up only....
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[geebs]

Hathor The jury is out... It is easy to use the "group" as a reason to cull one that has an apparent comb... I caution you yet again... I would wait to see color in the saddle... That has been the only true guide I use... I haven't lost another female to early culling practice. I looked at the pic an honestly I cannot say.... We are all in the dark on this one... I would caution against using a bird that matures this late (if it is a roo) for a breeder because it could breed the late starter genetics forward. Remember this.... One hen laid that egg... One idividual hen... Whatever her genetics are bred forward, so looking at the group doesn't always work as it often boils down to the one hen that someone possesses and keeps for whatever reason... My best looking hen that matured odd like this lays an amazing egg. Super dark... I have yet to hatch any for breeding because I fear that she will breed that trait forward.... I may get bold this spring and see what happens....just a batch of four or something...It is hard to cull such a pretty and "correct now" bird. She is going to make the cut for next year.... I want to see what happens with her. She looked like your little oddball there... I wouldn't cull the last photograph in the series unless there is color on that one as well. If I find my camera today I will get a photograph of her as an adult for you. Another thing I notice Hathor is the change in eye color. I see a change in the color in the roos at some point just before the saddle comes in. I haven't written that down thus far but thought it may lend a hand in helping you with your "watch detail". Keep me posted.

 

[nivtup]

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Hmm,

We have Wheatens.

 

[Wynette]

Hi, geebs! WELCOME BACK! Nice to see you! Yup - this thread is going super strong!

I did a small hatch a few months ago, and hatched one pullet (sheesh...I'm really good at hatching cockerels, though!) of a cross that I am just so super excited about...she's from a Fitzgerald (very, very nice line - Beth & Dave have worked super hard on their stock) hen and is fathered by a pure Davis roo. She's got the super black with beetle green sheen, and just a tiny bit of copper in her hackles (that's the way I like my hens, not too heavy on the hackle coppering for the black coppers). However, two weeks ago, she went through a bout of crop stasis. I worked & worked on her, and finally...she pit up a large chunk of something that looked almost like a hairball that a cat will cough up. It looked like a compacted chunk of really long grasses (unusual - typically, they clip the tips of the long grasses off little by little). She seems to be doing better, and her crop is emptying each day now as usual, but she DID lose a lot of weight, and I'm now wondering if I should even keep her in my breeding pen. SHe hasn't started to lay yet, so it may be a moot point if she doens't lay dark enough, but I have no reason to think she won't.

What are your thoughts? I do not use birds that have any medical issues in my breeder pens - I just feel like they may be weak in some way, and I don't want to pass along those genes. Anyway, thought I'd run it past my Marans friends to see what you all think!