Cuckoo Maran egg question

[mandyp]

I have never hatched any Marans. I really want Cuckoo Marans, because I've heard they are very gentle & easily handled. I've been told by different people that it is harder to hatch them in an incubator because Marans eggshells are harder than other eggs. And I've heard there are difficulties with humidity with them also. Is this true?

 

[Katy]

I had cuckoos for a long time and now I've got wheaten Marans. I've always incubated their eggs in the same incubator with my other breeds' eggs and have good hatches without doing anything special for them.

 

[NCIndiaBlue]

I have Cuckoo Marans and haven't had any any issues with hatching. 50-60% humidity for 21 days. I also have two broody Marans hens at the moment, one is raising her own chicks that she hatched, and one is setting on some peafowl eggs.

 

[mandyp]

I'm glad to hear that. I've really got my heart set on these birds. My grown hens are getting too old to lay & I want to get a good laying flock started that I can get my hands on. I'm tired of getting flogged by those game hens. They come running when I call, but will kick your butt if you touch their eggs.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
The Black Coppers are the ones that are hard to hatch.
As to Cuckoo personalities....mine were a bit older when we got them, so I am sure that played into things for sure. They were not gentle, nor were they easy to handle

Their eggs hatched with ease though. We put the eggs under broody Cochins, and not in an incubator.

 

[mandyp]

Thanks for the info. I plan on having my hands on them alot from day one, so maybe they will like me a little.

 

[justtoni44]

hi,
I am just hatching Blue Cooper Marans..............Was worried also in part because the eggs are so dark I could not candle them.
Anyway....guess who is hatching first in the incubator.
OMG, they are so beautiful.
I am using an LP, still air and just followed the directions shared here.
Have 10 of these in the bator.5 have hatched.4 piped.
Hope this helps.
Good Luck to you

 

[Katy]

Quote:
The Black Coppers are the ones that are hard to hatch.
As to Cuckoo personalities....mine were a bit older when we got them, so I am sure that played into things for sure. They were not gentle, nor were they easy to handle

Their eggs hatched with ease though. We put the eggs under broody Cochins, and not in an incubator.

BC's aren't any harder to hatch than any other Marans egg. A good colored Marans egg is the same whether it comes from a Cuckoo, a Wheaten or a BC. My cuckoos had nice dark eggs as do my Wheatens.