Ameracauna/ EE X Cuxkoo Marans mix results...

[Jayzandra]

We hatched out some eggs from our mixed flock. The rooster was sold to us as a Wheaton Ameracauna, but I suppose could have been an EE. The Cuckoo Marans first clutch of chicks resulted in a solid black bearded hen and a barred rooster. The second clutch resulted in 3 solid blacks (assuming hens) and 2 barreds (assuming roos). One of the solid black has some red feathering coming in. It's hard to see because it's like the red is mixed in with the black. I don't know what to make of this. I will try to get some pics of all of them tomorrow, till then, I'd like to see any pics anyone has of this cross.

 

[Michael OShay]

I'd like to see the picture of your Wheaton Ameraucana or EE to determine which it is. If the seller was misspelling it as "Ameracauna", it is likely an EE as true Ameraucana breeders don't misspell their breed's name. If it turns our to be a true Ameraucana rooster, then the pullets produced by crossing it with a Cuckoo Maran will lay olive green eggs. If it is just an EE rooster, then there is no telling what shade of eggs you will get from their offspring.

 

[Jayzandra]

I misspelled it. I spell it different every time. Haha. I had heard that the color of the bottom of the feet matter and his were white. We had to eat him because he was becoming aggressive. Here's Jack..






Here's the Cuckoo Marans mother, Cupcake...


Daughter hatched March 19, 2014, Raven...


Raven's brother.


Here's the 2nd hatch from May 30th, 2014
Chick #1




Chick #2

The wind was blowing the feathers up


Chick #3




Chick #4




Chick #5




I'm pretty sure the two cuckoo/barred are cockerels. I was assuming they were sex links but that red is confusing me.

 

[donrae]

They are sex link birds, females are solid and males are barred. The red is just leakage from the father's color over-riding the black in places. Male sex link birds often have red in the hackles and wing bows, and it often enlarges as they age. Females will usually have the leakage at the throat/chest/collar area. I've had black sex links with a fair amount of reddish/brown coming through like your pullets have.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks for posting the pics. Jack is definitely a Wheaten Ameraucana, not an EE, so if you breed him with your Cuckoo Maran, the offspring will be Olive Eggers.

 

[Jayzandra]

Thank you. I'm trying to learn chicken genetics because I'd like to eventually start a project and develop a breed, but first t's research, research, research.