Just wanted to update you on the new Marans chicks that have hatched out in the last few weeks. These are a mix of a few different kinds of Marans. There is Black Copper,Cuckoo,Splash,and Blues in this brooder. I just took out 30 chicks that had hatched that day and placed them all in this brooder. I'll be separating all the different kinds,but for now a mix. 

 A little on the Marans, for those that don't know about them........

The Marans is a breed of chicken originating in France They are popular for poultry shows and dark colored eggs, rather than for its meat.Marans are historically great dual-purpose bird, prized not only for their dark eggs but for their table qualities as well.Marans will lay around 150 dark brown eggs each year.There are 9 recognized colors in the French Standard: Cuckoo, Golden Cuckoo, Black, Birchen, Black Copper, Wheaton, Black-tailed Buff, White and Columbian; other colors not officially recognized (such as Blue Copper) also exist. Black Copper and Cuckoo are the most common of these.All have red or orange eyes and white feet.The original Marans have feathered legs but this has been bred out by many.Marans are quiet, docile, gentle birds, but they are quite active, taking well to free ranging in rough terrain and are also tough and disease-resistant. They were originally bread in the marshy areas of France and can cope with damper conditions. They are perfect for us here in the Pacific Northwest.