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

[Wynette]

Debbi - CONGRATS on your hatching! Babies are beautiful!

I haven't been on this thread in awhile, but would like to ask - who has Cottage Hill line Marans? I've got a young Cottage Hill cockerel that is absolutely gorgeous - each time I look at him, he's getting nicer & nicer. My hens are pure Davis and pure Jeane (from before Wade dispersed his flocks). I'm hoping someone else has this combo. and can let me know if it's a nice cross.

 

[Debbi]

Sorry Wynette, I am totally new to this breed. This is my first ever hatch, and my first go with BCM. I'm getting a really good education and quickly! Just had to free a chick from the egg. The poor thing had been struggling hard and started to show signs of weakness. I looked at the membrane, and it looked like a dried out Latex glove! Gees, I could barely budge it, this chick was going to die! Good news, she is peeping loudly, then resting. The shell was completely dried out inside. Yolk sac all absorbed, no blood, and I let her give the last big kick to free herself. I think she'll be ok, just have to watch her. Argued back and forth with myself if I should or shouldn't interfere. I am convinced I made the correct decision. Phew!

...and I'm spent!

 

[Wynette]

Yeah, hatching can be SO stressful. I have a hard & fast rule not to intervene simply because I don't want a "weak hatching gene" in my offspring, but everyone has their comfort level! I HAVE helped in the past, I just don't any more. It's a tough decision, for sure! Glad that little one's doing well now, and BEST of luck with the rest!

 

[Debbi]

Funny you should say that. That was my stand on the issue till this morning. They work so hard, then to have a mishap with the humidity is hardly their fault. It was tearing my heart out, so I helped her. She's snoozing now, but wakes every 5 minutes or so to let me know, "hey, I'm still here!" Bless their little hearts, I will never look at another egg in the same way again...

 

[berkeleysprings]

Quote:
well you must be exhausted from the hatching , i was wondering if u used a still air bator ?yes many say hatching marans is harder and its all stresssful and fun , good luck ...
have fun , then sleep lol

 

[Debbi]

No, I am using a brand new, Little Giant (yeh, I know now), forced air with turner. Got another egg rocking like crazy and peeping it's head off! The tiny third one is in the brooder with the first & second born. Everyone here is exhausted, and doesn't look like I'll be getting any sleep tonight either! Plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead, besides, I am really enjoying this! My daughter and 2 granddaughters are coming tomorrow. Hope these little ones hurry up, I'd hate to miss something while we are out!

 

[Debbi]

Wow! I've got 4 on the ground now!! Still hoping for the one that's 1/4 of the way zipped, but it doesn't look good. Will post more pics when they are all in the brooder, and I get some sleep!

 

[geebs]

Good luck debbi... nice hatch!!! If you help one it is likely you lost a lot of humidity so be ready to "help this one also... Just make sure it has had ample time to absorb the yolk sac... It helps if you equalize the humidity in the bathroom and open the bator that way you don't lose the moisture.. Just a thought... Good luck and keep us posted.... We will gladly help you name them..

 

[NewHen]

Quote:
It was so hard to decide on the eggs and than to hatch them, I hope that these are hens.

We can only keep one rooster in Los Angeles. I live in a residential neighborhood. My next door neighbor just got chickens too including one male who was crowing non stop. He already got rid of him. Due to my daughter's daily urging, I'm going to try to keep one rooster. I'm just not sure how long to wait since they fight so much. Only one has all its feathers. My coop and run are full of black feathers and they keep charging each other and then bending low and giving each other the stink eye. I'm pretty sure one of my new Ameracauna chicks and one of the blue marans are males. The wait is painful.

I thought these were males since the 4th "female" bird has such a smaller and yellower comb but the "males" do look like your hens. Their feathers have a blue green sheen that the "female" doesn't and two have two tail feathers that are coming in green/blue....

 

[gvntofly05]

Debbie Congrats on your hatch!

I think I am going to end up needing everyone's help deciding what BCM roo to keep out of the 2 I currently have. They have had their tiffs in the past but yesterday was all out war.

I had to put one of them in the large brooder overnight and when I let everyone out this morning they went right back to fighting.

They have torn each other up pretty bad

Which is why I intervened. I only have 1 coop at the moment. Another one has been planned, it's just a matter of getting hubby started on it. Although he doesn't want to build it until fall.

I will post pics of my roos as soon as I can get out to get them.

I have bought some eggs from Wynette, so I suspect most of my breeding flock will be replaced with what I hatch anyway, or at least the roos. Hubbys reason for not needing a second coop until fall!