Try to improve the coop ventilation and clean out the poop every morning to reduce humidity.
Don't keep waterers in the coop.
It does not look severe yet.
It is often the humidity in the coop or strong winds outside causing the frost bite.
The thicker combs hardly get any frostbite, it is...
You are right, plus his comb is incorrect as it is missing much of the important hind part ( in German it is called "Kammfahne"). I don't know the correct term in English, sorry.
My rescued Foxterrier X Jack Russel mix did stop.
He killed my then favourite hen which was fenced separately with her sister to recover from overmating and moult.
He was extremely attached to me, we had a very special bond, and it was pure horror for him that I screamed at him while throwing...
Thank you for your detailed answer.
Breeding out the English type seems sensible to me as chickens with leg issues are not what you want to see as a breeder.
As it seems you are on a good path and have the required patience and knowledge to be really successful with your project.
And you have...
What crosses exactly did you make? All within the Marans breed or some outcrossing as well?
Yes, here in Germany we see quite a lot of them, although I have to say that important qualities and traits of the breed seem to get lost with breeders focusing on expositions only.
It was the deceased sheep gone crazy they shreddered and fed to the cows that led to the bovine variation which was finally able to infect humans as well.
But other than that you are totally right
This is just what it is, as genetics have their own ways to always come up with some unexpected surprises, no matter how perfect the parent birds might appear.
Did you notice the soiled/pasty butts? Clean them up carefully and let them have some tea: oregano, thyme, fennel and aniseed. Add some sand to the brooder to help with proper digestion.
I don't use eggs this large for hatching, and larger ones only if they have been laid by older hens (2 years at least, better older), as the the big eggs laid by young hens or pullets will have too much albumen left at the end of the incubation and the chicks will drown (aspirate) when trying to...