4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[AJuff]

On closer inspection of my three new rescued marans I have noticed they are very different from the hybrids. They all have a lot of fat/muscle on their breast bone which moves from side to side when they walk. They look rather stockier/heavier than the hybids I have. At first i thought they may have swollen crops but now I'm wondering if it's just their build. Any one with a maran out there????

[Snowy]

Can you post some pics Ajuff?

[Madchook]

Could they be fat? I know they weren't well looked after, but that doesn't rule out over-feeding /stuffing full of corn! Would certainly explain the non-laying...

I notice on your other thread you use xeno200 , can I ask what egg withdrawal it is? I did mine last Saturday and was working on the assumption it was 14days, but I read elsewhere 7days... which would be great as one of them seems to have back into lay (maybe as a result of the treatment?!) and I have a moutain of eggs... the thought of composting another whole weeks is depressing!

[Scottie]

I have two marans - a cuckoo and a splash. The cuckoo marans is a big, heavy bird (absolutely nuts as well!) and the splash is pretty stocky as well. I'm just off to a wedding but will try and post some photos of them tomorrow.

 

Sheila

[chelsea]

I have a cuckoo, she is quite small overall but her chest/lower chest area is rather plumpish giving her a lovely rounded look. (she looks like a traditional chicken if you get my drift )

 

Marans are prone to get fat if they do not get enough exercise/if not allowed to free range as they are greedy little so and so's!!

[AJuff]

Madchook, I rang the makers of Xeno 200 and there is a 7 day egg withdrawl.

 

Am just off to have lunch but will post some pictures later. . .

[AJuff]

Well what an interesting afternoon with the new girls. They are scared stiff of any movements and clearly are not used to human company. They are peculiar in that they don't do normal chickeny things like scratching about, preening and they don't show any interest in food! They seem to stand about and peck each other eating each others feathers. One had a bumper bit on already but as I watched them it seems the other more feathered girl has a taste for feathers. The victim chook just stood about like lunch.

 

I have also noticed that they have very small combs and pale faces. From the info the lady gave me I guess they must be just over a year old now.

 

 

Then they all have very dirty bottoms!

 

 

and one poor chook has no tail feathers. There's just the stump!!

 

 

I took one girl out of the eglu when she was calm and in roosting mode, brought her into the house, put on a bumper bit and and washed her bottom. I'm sure she'll feel better tomorrow and so will her tailess victim. Lots of pellets, no treats, fresh water, Xeno 200, more space and poultry spice. Hope they recover very soon!!!

[Snowy]

Aaah, bless them. Hopefully they will perk up and start doing normal chickeny things with your TLC Ajuff. They look like lovely girls, and looking at other pics of marans, they do seem to be quite well endowed in the chest department

[Madchook]

Thanks for the info on the xeno, back to egg hunting tomorrow:)

Those poor girls, they look a right state considering they were garden chickens.... no excuse for that I hope they reward you for your care by coming back into lay...just so you can tell the previous owner smugly.

[Christian]

I have an English Maran and she is rather buxom too. As Chelsea says, they are prone to weight gain (aren't we all ).

 

Mine is the greediest of them all and always has her head in the grub.

 

I'm sure they will be ok with you looking after them

[The Dogmother]

I have a cuckoo maran bantam - she's still young, but is going to be a comfortable build already.

 

Sound like yours need a healthcheck, worming, lice treating and a basic diet to get them sorted out. Try cutting out any treats, give them pellets, probiotic yoghurt and ACV in the water. If they still do squitty poos then add some Bokashi bran to their feed.

 

I'm sure that they will improve soon.

[stoice]

I believe Marans are a 'dual purpose' bird, originally bred for eggs and meat. So probably would always be a little more generously proportioned than an egg laying-only-breed / hybrid.