A couple of weeks ago, I noticed an add on Craigslist about some French Black Copper Marans chicks available. Marans being one of my favorite breeds of chickens I had to check it out.
Marans are not only colorful birds but lay the darkest eggs of any chickens. These birds are always refered to as marans even if there is only one. Must be a French thing.
After several emails and text messages I got to meet Julie the owner of Chicken Ridge Farm.
It was a 90 minutes drive each way but it was definitely worth it. Julie has a great collection of rare chickens. Several of which I brought home with me. One of the breeds she raises is
The picture does do this bird justice. The coloring is awesome and would look great in anyone flock. Julie also is starting to raise one of the strangest chickens around.
These birds are totally black inside and out. Julie held one while I opened it's beak and the tongue and inside of the mouth is also black as night. Reportedly all the internal organs are also black. Though we didn't test that. Oddly enough this bird lays white eggs. Go figure.
And now to my favorite breed. Or at least it's my favorite at the moment. Julie has some spectactular Crested Crème Legbars.
There are three things I love about these chickens. The color of the eggs.
The fact that the chicks are easily sexed at birth.
The girls have a chipmunk stripe and the boys have a spot on their heads.
And of course the funny little tuft or crest of feathers on their heads.
Check out the Chicken Ridge Farm's web site. www.chickenridgefarm.com And if you get a chance to talk to Julie, tell her Bob says hi and thanks for the great birds.
French Black Copper Marans
Marans are not only colorful birds but lay the darkest eggs of any chickens. These birds are always refered to as marans even if there is only one. Must be a French thing.
After several emails and text messages I got to meet Julie the owner of Chicken Ridge Farm.
It was a 90 minutes drive each way but it was definitely worth it. Julie has a great collection of rare chickens. Several of which I brought home with me. One of the breeds she raises is
English Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington
The picture does do this bird justice. The coloring is awesome and would look great in anyone flock. Julie also is starting to raise one of the strangest chickens around.
AYAM
CEMANI
CEMANI
And now to my favorite breed. Or at least it's my favorite at the moment. Julie has some spectactular Crested Crème Legbars.
Crested Cream Legbar
There are three things I love about these chickens. The color of the eggs.
The fact that the chicks are easily sexed at birth.
The girls have a chipmunk stripe and the boys have a spot on their heads.
And of course the funny little tuft or crest of feathers on their heads.
Check out the Chicken Ridge Farm's web site. www.chickenridgefarm.com And if you get a chance to talk to Julie, tell her Bob says hi and thanks for the great birds.
