I've started this mix for several reasons. I'm hatching for myself, but I'm going to have full bators for a while and don't want to waste them.
I did this breeding with a BCM and a Wheaten Marans in with my Game hens. I live where it's very hot during the summer. The Games are great foragers, deal with the heat and lay like crazy. The hens are some of my sweetest birds. They are very hearty and adapt to just about anything. My 5 year old grand daughter has her own Game hen and carries her and a couple of my Marans roo around all the time. Like I said they are very mellow girls.
I'd heard how tasty Marans were, but....okay, I haven't been able to do that to any of the boys. LOL
I was going to buy meat birds, but then did some thinking and decided I already had what I needed. I have pure breeds and I'm working at building my stock to be able to sell pure bred eggs. I didn't want to have to build another area for meaties.
I also wanted a good laying flock. My Games lay like crazy, they tend to go broodie at times (I want some broodies) and They are good sized girls. They are Pleasingly Plump! Always hated that term. but for chickens it's alright.
So I've hatched out a few of these and they are growing as fast or faster than the pure Marans. The Games lay earlier too. I think it's a great mix and I'm going to either learn to process or have someone do it for me, but I should have chicken in the freezer in a couple of months. I should also have pullets laying, probably by the middle of summer. Haven't seen what the eggs will look like yet, but pretty sure they will be some shade of brown. My Marans lay huge eggs and the Games lay a little smaller, but I think these will lay at least an large egg.
The chicks so far have hatched out wheaten and almost the same color and markings of a BCM. They are feathering really quickly. Faster than my other breeds.
These should be good for anyone wanting some good layers and meat birds. I'd like a few people to try them and let me know what they think.
I have another BYCer with some of these in the bator and they are looking to process them. I can't wait to get their feedback on taste. Did I mention Marans are supposed to be tasty?
I'm going to start collecting eggs on Sunday and I'm sending all they lay up till the end of the auction. I have 7 laying right now. Two like to jump the fence and lay for the neighbors
I figure there will be at least 2 dozen, but today we have a big storm and no one has laid, but I figure they will be OK by Sunday, since our weather is supposed to clear up.
OH......My granddaughter's hen's eggs get marked and she's starting her own little flock. According to her these are a very valuable mix, because she has tried to sell me her first chick for $1000....LOL
Took this pic two days ago. The smallest was hatched on the 19th (the $1000 chick) LOL The two others were hatched March 7th. See how fast they have feathered and grown?
I did this breeding with a BCM and a Wheaten Marans in with my Game hens. I live where it's very hot during the summer. The Games are great foragers, deal with the heat and lay like crazy. The hens are some of my sweetest birds. They are very hearty and adapt to just about anything. My 5 year old grand daughter has her own Game hen and carries her and a couple of my Marans roo around all the time. Like I said they are very mellow girls.
I'd heard how tasty Marans were, but....okay, I haven't been able to do that to any of the boys. LOL
I was going to buy meat birds, but then did some thinking and decided I already had what I needed. I have pure breeds and I'm working at building my stock to be able to sell pure bred eggs. I didn't want to have to build another area for meaties.
I also wanted a good laying flock. My Games lay like crazy, they tend to go broodie at times (I want some broodies) and They are good sized girls. They are Pleasingly Plump! Always hated that term. but for chickens it's alright.
So I've hatched out a few of these and they are growing as fast or faster than the pure Marans. The Games lay earlier too. I think it's a great mix and I'm going to either learn to process or have someone do it for me, but I should have chicken in the freezer in a couple of months. I should also have pullets laying, probably by the middle of summer. Haven't seen what the eggs will look like yet, but pretty sure they will be some shade of brown. My Marans lay huge eggs and the Games lay a little smaller, but I think these will lay at least an large egg.
The chicks so far have hatched out wheaten and almost the same color and markings of a BCM. They are feathering really quickly. Faster than my other breeds.
These should be good for anyone wanting some good layers and meat birds. I'd like a few people to try them and let me know what they think.
I have another BYCer with some of these in the bator and they are looking to process them. I can't wait to get their feedback on taste. Did I mention Marans are supposed to be tasty?
I'm going to start collecting eggs on Sunday and I'm sending all they lay up till the end of the auction. I have 7 laying right now. Two like to jump the fence and lay for the neighbors
I figure there will be at least 2 dozen, but today we have a big storm and no one has laid, but I figure they will be OK by Sunday, since our weather is supposed to clear up.
OH......My granddaughter's hen's eggs get marked and she's starting her own little flock. According to her these are a very valuable mix, because she has tried to sell me her first chick for $1000....LOL
Took this pic two days ago. The smallest was hatched on the 19th (the $1000 chick) LOL The two others were hatched March 7th. See how fast they have feathered and grown?
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