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

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Aren't you done with that yet?

Well, I thought you were going to come finish it for me.

Sheesh, I'm doing it mostly by myself. Husband is determined to make me realize how not fun it is. (it's working) Plus 2 kids kinda throw a wrench in the plans. Don't ya know, their life comes first?

I'm going for the Guinness Book of World Records for the SLOWEST builder. I figure I'll win. Next time, I'm buying a Tuff Shed and retrofitting for a coop. This building stuff stinks.

Hey, I am pretty good at that stuff now .... lots of experience.

I have to admit though, next time .... I am calling a builder!

 

[Happy Chooks]

It WILL get done................................eventually.

 

[Lotsapaints]

I processed my first Cuckoo Marans roo @ 20 weeks and he was very nice with more fat than my Rocks about the same as the Dellies. I haven't cooked one yet but no wonder the French like to cook them from their appearance and I totally understand why many people include them in their meat crosses. I've noticed that my other Marans I have seem smaller than the Cuckoos and since I've hatched out mostly trashy looking ones I will be processing them but what causes the dark legs they are not dusky only part that is white is the very bottom and I have one with yellow looking legs so that one cannot be purebred no matter what the "breeder" says. Most of the "black coppers" I have don't even have copper eyes either....I am so bummed on trying to get any decent ones and I do not understand why people are crossing the Birchens with their coppers is their a good reason? It doesn't really matter now I'm going to stick with my Cuckoos I have white legs, copper eyes dark enough eggs I will probably always be working on getting darker eggs and plenty of size..and I have some with nice feathered shanks so I will work on getting that bred into mine. Sorry about the rant about the coppers it just seems like people are trying to ruin them......and then sell the eggs like they are fine

 

[Wynette]

Not ALL breeders do that, Lotsa! I have worked extremely hard and have been very diligent to stick with the proposed standard when culling. In fact, I'm now down to only a few adult laying hens in my breeder pen because I removed so many this past spring.

I bought some from a breeder (who shall remain nameless) that I was very excited about. When the hatch was overwith, I had: fused toes, yellow legs, solid black, orange eyes.....I was disappointed, and none will be used in my breeder flock. But, you do what you can, and choose the best and go from there. It's very frustrating at times, but this year, I am finally close to resolving many of my original issues, and I'm super happy with egg color in my black coppers, so I'm pretty geeked up about next year!

Your Cuckoos sound lovely!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
That just stinks Wynette! With all the hard work you put into your birds, and to end up receiving "junk". I'm sorry.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Wynette thanks it was just a rant to get it off my chest...I do have a few that are nice but what culling I've had to do so far. The best breeders are people like you and I have found some very honest people who I plan on doing business with again. I did see you have BC's and thought if I wanted to try and breed some I might try from you. I love my SPR eggs and I am looking forwards to a nice hatch. Does anyone know why you would mix Silver Birchen with Black Coppers? The French site says to use Silver Birchens on your Goldens to improve the color both of the bird and eggs but I never found anything about mixing Black Coppers with the Birchens...I find the Birchens very beautiful but I would not have any idea who would sell good ones.....I'm counting my blessings on finding my good Cuckoos

 

[rsf31tmp]

Next spring when I am hatching my eggs, I have to get some black cooper eggs to hatch or get some baby chicks....love the looks of the bird and the eggs and I am told they are the best!

Can't get enough pics!

 

[pinkchick]

My babies arrived from Florida yesterday!

All arrived safe and sound and doing wonderful. Spunky little webble wobbles!
They weren't suppose to be here until today and yesterday morning, totally unprepared, I get a call from the local post office.

I'm amazed at how fast they got here from that far away. They were mailed on Tuesday at 230PM and here by 11AM....WOW! That was fast!

Here they are.......... ya'll know how hard it is to get a photo of all of them at once.

 

[1mommahen]

SWEET!!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats! They are adorable!