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

[Tala]

Quote:
Well I never kill anything unless it's worth eating, so I grow up my roosters to butchering size irregardless of whether or not I'm actually *keeping* them.

On a BCM though, I'm growing those guys for out as long as I can handle that many roosters till I know which is best. I want to pick the most correct one for my breeding. I would NEVER cull out a breeding type bird that early, because you can't select the best one to keep yet.

 

[berkeleysprings]

any one going ?
Orleans County 4-H Fair
Route 31
Knowlesville, NY
585-798-4265

http://www.orleans4-hfair.com/
See you July 26 - July 31 2010

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Tala,
Culling does not mean killing. It simply means to remove from your flock, for whatever reason. You can sell them, or eat them, or whatever. Cull for excess, cull for poor type, cull for being a mean rooster, cull for .....

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Tala,
Culling does not mean killing. It simply means to remove from your flock, for whatever reason. You can sell them, or eat them, or whatever. Cull for excess, cull for poor type, cull for being a mean rooster, cull for .....

Still, I won't cull any of my boys (eating, giving away, whatever) until they're 6-7 months old. Even my odd eyed one. They'll be in the bachelor pad by 5 months old anyway, so there's no worry of them being in the genepool. Then, depending on our need for chicken to eat and the demand for cockerels by other people is what we'll do with them.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Tala,
Culling does not mean killing. It simply means to remove from your flock, for whatever reason. You can sell them, or eat them, or whatever. Cull for excess, cull for poor type, cull for being a mean rooster, cull for .....

There's not much else to do with 8 extra roosters who aren't genepool-quality.

Do YOU want 8 hungry alarm clocks? Do YOU keep extra roosters for yard decoration??
I wouldn't agree with selling them to a novice - hurting their genepool, and an experienced breeder wouldn't buy a less-than-quality specimen for their breeding pool either. Might as well make use of them by eating the meat.
You're welcome to your own opinions - I have mine. I have sold some extra cockerels to people who wanted them for breeding. I DO offer them for sale before I do any freezing, but the truth is that 90% of roosters are not needed for anything besides filling tummies.

 

[halo]

I am growing out a splash copper marans roo that I got indirectly from Bev Davis. He is probably 3 -4 months old. Ive never grown out any marans roosters before, but this dude looks like a dinosaur. Gawky, big long honkin legs, looks more like an ostrich than a marans.

Is this typical? Or do I have a mutant?

I know, I know, Ill get pics tomorrow.

 

[ginasmarans]

From what I understand,yes,side sprigs are automatically a disqualification. I would not keep them in my breeding pen. It might be a good thing all of them are roos. That gene won't get hidden in a hen.

 

[Illia]

Quote:

I think that describes them well - Marans should be nice and tall and with huge legs, much like a dinosaur or Oriental Game. My boys aren't that old yet but I too am expecting them to go through some funny lookin' teenages.

But really, you do need pics. . . Then that will tell.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Mine look like that, they are Davis-line chicks too. Honkin huge legs!!!!!!!! Ostrich, lol that's a good description. lol

 

[halo]

Okay, Ill get pics tomorrow. And dont be shy in telling me he's the ugliest thing that ever hatched.