Wrath's Marans

[The Coop Crew]

I’m so sorry you lost a sweet baby. I hope she comes back

 

[Auntiejessi3]

 

[TwoCrows]

Sad news update...I've lost one of 'the Hateful Eight', one of Joannie's 13 week pullets. They've been playing in the corn and only 7 showed up last night at lockup, searched for a couple hours but it's next to impossible to see more than a few row's even in the daylight.
This morning I scoured the corn field with no sign of her at all.

And yes, Marans thread friends.. I did search the barn. The story there is Raven (2 BBS broody) went missing around POL. Thought a hawk or something snatched her with no signs of any struggle. I by chance was digging around in the barn for something 10 days later and there she was laying on the concrete in between 2 door slabs not 3 feet from where I clean the duck coop everyday and never made a sound.... Felt horrible for days knowing she spent 10 days with no food or water and in cold temps. But she improved overnight to the point I put her back with the flock and all was well.
Anyways, I'm watching and listening today and tonight the traps will be set. (I didn't want to draw anything in last night setting them in case she was just hunkered down). I've trapped 2 coons and a possum since the corn has been knee high and now it's over 5' tall.

Don't have enough runs to lock everyone up, so this is the risk with free ranging. This part of chickenry sucks....

I am sorry for your loss. Hard on the heart for sure.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Haven't updated ín a bit but I'm having a broody-off here. I'm up to 6 In the Marans camp and now got 1 in the mixed flock.
I put 4 BCM x EE eggs under Copper (I think I mentioned this already). Now Jett and Angel have gone broody at the same time.
Put 5 eggs from Black under Jett and haven't decided what to do with Angel yet, I may break her.
In the mixed flock I'm still waiting to see if Roady my BA fully commits and I have eggs on standby for her. BCM x her eggs for no other reason than she's just our friendliest, most docile hen here and BCM x BR for MMM's.

This is Roady our BA.

 

[wrathsfarm]

And this is Black. She was pitch black like Betty but did grow some slight copper under her wattles as she grew. This will be a first time test hatch as I'm not sure if she is a pure Marans or an MMM, as she was hatched without marking any eggs and there was BR eggs in the mix. If she is pure, she should compliment Kongs coloring or Barred boys will prove she's not. Her comb won't improve his, tho...

 

[TwoCrows]

Haven't updated ín a bit but I'm having a broody-off here. I'm up to 6 In the Marans camp and now got 1 in the mixed flock.
I put 4 BCM x EE eggs under Copper (I think I mentioned this already). Now Jett and Angel have gone broody at the same time.
Put 5 eggs from Black under Jett and haven't decided what to do with Angel yet, I may break her.
In the mixed flock I'm still waiting to see if Roady my BA fully commits and I have eggs on standby for her. BCM x her eggs for no other reason than she's just our friendliest, most docile hen here and BCM x BR for MMM's.

This is Roady our BA.
View attachment 3889026

And this is Black. She was pitch black like Betty but did grow some slight copper under her wattles as she grew. This will be a first time test hatch as I'm not sure if she is a pure Marans or an MMM, as she was hatched without marking any eggs and there was BR eggs in the mix. If she is pure, she should compliment Kongs coloring or Barred boys will prove she's not. Her comb won't improve his, tho...View attachment 3889032View attachment 3889033View attachment 3889037

Gorgeous!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Kong x Joannie cockerel 15 weeks yesterday... Least dominate of the two. (Double purple band)

 

[The Coop Crew]

Kong x Joannie cockerel 15 weeks yesterday... Least dominate of the two. (Double purple band)View attachment 3891776View attachment 3891775View attachment 3891774View attachment 3891777View attachment 3891778View attachment 3891778View attachment 3891779View attachment 3891780

He’s so handsome!

 

[wrathsfarm]

He’s so handsome!

Thanks..I tried getting pics of the other one but none of them turned. Both of them were on high alert as I just put each one in that coop. So all brand new to them.
I gotta build a bigger run for them yet as that one is small and then I can eliminate that trap door in the floor.
But the pullets are much happier now and Kong don't pay too much attention to them.

One less headache...

 

[Tstraub]

Haven't updated ín a bit but I'm having a broody-off here. I'm up to 6 In the Marans camp and now got 1 in the mixed flock.
I put 4 BCM x EE eggs under Copper (I think I mentioned this already). Now Jett and Angel have gone broody at the same time.
Put 5 eggs from Black under Jett and haven't decided what to do with Angel yet, I may break her.
In the mixed flock I'm still waiting to see if Roady my BA fully commits and I have eggs on standby for her. BCM x her eggs for no other reason than she's just our friendliest, most docile hen here and BCM x BR for MMM's.

This is Roady our BA.
View attachment 3889026

All this broody talk is giving my girls ideas. I have 2 sleeping in nest boxes now. Both of the girls that I let raise babies this spring. I have been collecting eggs as fast as I can trying to discourage the behavior but these girls are stubborn.

The flock dynamics are super calm and coop is close to maximum capacity so I don’t want to add any more chicks right now. But these girls seem to think they need babies