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

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

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We had 30 mph winds today so everything was being blown around...not great pixs but I wanted some feedback on the coloring.
They are 3 months old so no eggs yet. I also have a golden pullet in with my mixed Marans and she is even younger, about 7 weeks old.

I know the older goldens were very dark eggs, they came from bayhorsebonne. The other golden pullet was a surprise egg included in some cuckoo eggs, it was about a 5-6 like the rest of the cuckoo eggs.

The eggs you sent should be hatching next weekend. I will post some pixs so you can see what I hatched out. Gosh, it is gonna be a long week...LOLOL

I have about 5-6 extra cuckoo roos...I was just going to send them to freezer camp but maybe I could find someone locally who would like to buy them, really hadn't thought of that.

 

[ninjapoodles]

First time this has happened to me--I have chicks dying! So far I've lost 5 or 6, and I can't figure out what's going on!

One by one, this is what happens: Chick gets lethargic, then one leg goes limp, then curls uselessly. Bad leg eventually straightens, and then hyperextends in a backward direction, by which time chick is lying spread out, panting. I've culled them all at this point.

Does anyone know what could possibly be going on?

 

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

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I have had something like this happen in the past. Chick is fine then it gets very lazy and just lays around before it starts panting, at that point it takes a very short time before they either roll over to their belly or back and then they die. I thought maybe they were too hot, not drinking enough water or maybe it was a gene issue?

I started giving Polyvisol ( liquid infant vitamins ) along with electrolytes in the waterer. TheOneMuch also suggested putting just a couple drop of green food coloring in the water as it seems to attract them. Since doing that, I have not lost a chick!!! My uneducated guess is either dehydration or vitamin deficiency??? I start this as soon as they come out of the incubator and continue for about 1 month. After that I just give electrolytes in the waterer without any food coloring for the next month just to be safe.

As a side note, they do look funny with green under their beaks...kind of remind me of the Green Hornet that was on tv eons ago; but this also gives you an idea if they are drinking as they should be.

Hope this helps you Belinda, it is so frustrating to lose chicks...so much effort incubating and then they just seem to keel over for no apparent reason. Try this and see if it keeps you from losing any more.

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

Belinda , I love the green water thing! Your right if nothing else you can see who is not drinking .
Great info!

 

[lildinkem]

I had one BC Maran do that right outta the egg. I set him up in a towel, placed him back into the incubator. And he made it just fine. I don't know what it is. What you described is exactly what happened. If he goes he goes. But, he didn't. And is doing very well. I hate to loose any birds. Especially the feathered legged ones.

 

[onthespot]

I had a feed issue from a certain source which will for now remain un-named until this is resolved, but the chick starter was actually inedible to newborn chicks and I lost several of different breeds before I figured it out. I switced back to Start n Grow when my lavender orps started to go floopy on day three and all are fine and have not looked back. I think in these tough times some feed producers just cannot resist the temptation to scrimp and save a buck here and there, and in this case it bacfired BADLY for me and a friend, who are not letting it slide. I lost some critically endangered birds, and some irreplaceable ones are badly stunted and I don't know if they will even be able to function in a flock when they grow up, but i am keeping them anyhow just hoping they can catch up somehow.

 

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

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Oh no!!! I am so sorry to hear about your loss. That just really stinks. Glad you found the source of the problem...just a shame you had to go through what you did to find out.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Everyone is doing well since last night, no more losses, thank goodness. I moved them all into the giant brooder with 6 3-week-old chicks, and that seems to have pepped everyone right up. Maybe the biggers encouraged them to eat and drink plenty by example. I think the ones I lost were all the really slow hatchers.

Here's one of the first Marans that hatched this time, one of mine.

The above pictures were taken outdoors while the sun was out. This last one was taken much later, when it was very overcast. That's why the egg looks darker in this last one.

 

[courtshep]

Those eggs are just a gorgeous color - I may have to get some Marans!! How is their temperement?

 

[lildinkem]

Nice photography, nice egg color, and a GREAT breed to have. Good luck with your babies.
Congrats!!!!