Let's talk Cuckoo and WHITE marans... breeding strategies...

[rsarns]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[cmfarm]

I have a question about the cuckoos. So I know that the boys are lighter and the girls are darker. I also know that in the chicks that boys are are usually a lighter color but this isn't always the case. What makes them lighter and how can you get the chicks to be easier to tell girls from boys?

 

[Lotsapaints]

The more you hatch them the better you can tell....I can tell pretty easy with mine and I am not using any single copy males or crossing to a black girl. Boys have 2 copies that's why they are lighter but sometimes you will use a single copy rooster so his color looks like a hen. I have tried crossing black hens with my rooster and then I have to wait for the comb to develop to tell I hope this helps you out.

 

[cmfarm]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I just ordered some White Marans chicks from Dick Dickerson and they are due to hatch in about 2 1/2 weeks and then he will ship them to me. I have been searching and searching for eggs/chicks of the white Marans for some time and finally found these. They cost a little more than I wanted to spend (don't tell my husband), but I think they are worth it.

 

[Lotsapaints]

It's cheaper to ship chicks than to try and hatch in most cases..congrats and you know we need pictures when you get them

 

[flowerchild59]

What would one get if they crossed a cuckoo maran over a blue hen??? Just curious and think it would be a beautiful chick.

 

[VillageChicken]

Blue cuckoo. There are some pictures of blue cuckoo on this thread.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
I just put my cuckoo cockeral(about 6 months old) in with 2 Blue Marans Hens and 1 Cuckoo Marans hen and will probably start collecting eggs mid month or so and see what I can hatch out.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
I just put my cuckoo cockeral(about 6 months old) in with 2 Blue Marans Hens and 1 Cuckoo Marans hen and will probably start collecting eggs mid month or so and see what I can hatch out.

You'll get blue and black cuckoo chicks. No question about it.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
I just put my cuckoo cockeral(about 6 months old) in with 2 Blue Marans Hens and 1 Cuckoo Marans hen and will probably start collecting eggs mid month or so and see what I can hatch out.

You'll get blue and black cuckoo chicks. No question about it.

That's what I'm hoping for