[Victorian Farmer]

Get a shooting club dawn and give them 5 pound per fox i did this and in 6 weeks they had 5. Get youre own back. ?.

[Moregin]

Got 1 last night thankfully. Just a youngster but worryingly I saw three in the field at one time. Had this problem years ago and lost amost everything I had. It turned out to be a pest control company releasing foxes nearby!

Thanks for the offer Steph Hen. I have a cockeral and a hen unrelated and about the same age plus the chicks from my last hatch so I am ok if I decide to try again.

HesterF, theres a few people around here now that got some from darkbrowneggs so hopefully there will be some good stock available in the years to come!

[Steph Hen]

Well done for getting it! Very worrying that there are so many right there!
No prob on  think he's destined for the pot.

Just remembered, you could maybe try this Bright eyes fox deterrant:
http://www.electricfence-online.co.uk/shop/pest-deterrents/bright-eyes-solar-powered-fox-763720.html

I got two and think they cost a bit less. Hard to know how good they are as  I've not had a fox attack here, either before or after installation... just an idea. But a chicken keeper in Fife told me she had dreadful fox issues till she put them up (and she wasn't selling them     )

[Kitchen Cottage]

 :bouquet:so sorry.... how absolutely gutting.... shame it was too early in the morning to have a wee dram, I suspect you needed it.

A local chap who keeps chickens on the allotment swears by this http://www.electricfence-online.co.uk/shop/pest-deterrents/foxwatch-ultrasonic-fox-dete-763719.html I'm going to get one to try it.... I don't know if anyone else has any experience of it.

[wayfarer]

Marans are a nightmare to hatch.  I have madde two attempts using broodies and an incubator and like others here there always seems to be loads more males than females.  Anyway after two attempts I ended up with one very nice Maran who laid our biggest and best eggs but this morning I went down to the run to see that she had died and she was only 14 months old.  No apparent reason - just seems Marans are not easy birds.

[Moregin]

I've found the exact same Wayfarer. Hard all round. Still really like them and the dark eggs though!!

Two foxes down now!!!

[darkbrowneggs]

What I always used to say is that if they were easy they would be selling eggs that colour at the supermarket and garage.  The very fact you only see good dark eggs occasionally shows how difficult they are to breed.


But if anyone is any good at poultry and would take a serious interest there is a big unfulfilled market for quality stock.   Now I have given up there is really only one other guy who even has the potential to produce them.  I am hoping those folk who have taken my stock on will be able to keep the stain going, as I have to say it was what a Marans really should be.  -  A strong heavy bird laying a sensible quantity of lovely coloured large eggs


Also do join the Marans Club - it is in desperate need of dedicated new breeders and there is a network to funnel potential buyers through to good breeders


www.themaransclub.co.uk  Its only £6 to join and they have a good year book (well I have to sya that as it me as does it    )