cuckoo marans

[Chic Chick]

I got my cockoo marans from performance hatchery in Ontario and I'm a bit disappointed with the egg color. Only 1 or 2 are laying a darker egg, but I choose the breed for it's meat too. I've heard the meat is the sweetest best tasting there is, and I plan on butchering all the young cockerals
Help! How do I post a picture here?

 

[Chic Chick]

 

[newchicksnducks]

Love the colors there!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I will say the rooster I have is big and I expect he's dress out nice. I haven't a got a scale to weigh him. The hens are laying decent sized eggs for only to have been laying for a month or so. I've got 10 month old GLW and SLW and Aust laying just bout the same size or smaller. Not as big as my Dels tho.

 

[Atlchick]

Here are some of my Cuckoo Marans eggs ...

 

[Chic Chick]

Thank you newchicks, these are all pullet eggs except for the pale blue one on the bottom, the greenish one is from my "paint" an ameraucana X leghorn. My grandkids love picking out which color of eggs they want to eat, they say that their eggs taste better too.

Atlchick, you're so lucky to have the dark eggs and that pink is such a unique color! I love it! Also ty for the help with the pics

Caroline, ask to see the color of eggs the breeder is hatching. They would be hatching only the full sized eggs and I've heard the marans egg color is the darkest at the beginning of the laying cycle and lightens as the time goes . If they're from a well known line a private breeder would have a lot better quality then the big hatcheries. You've already spent some time reading up on marans so you have an idea of where the best ones are. Good luck!

rancher hicks, I also use a heat lamp 24/7 in winter . With our cold winters I had to have breeds that are hardy and that's why one is the ameraucana. I got my australorps (which are one of the top egg layers) from award winning show quality stock in this area, and they are also good for cold weather tho the combs do get frostbitten. I wanted the marans for the egg color and I'm happy with their laying this winter. I hatch out replacements every spring and by late fall they are all laying so I have eggs all year round.

Some of you are saying your hens aren't laying - the reason why could be because of low light. If the hens don't have at least 14 hours of light a day they won't lay regular. It's easier to keep them laying by adding the light in the fall, but they should start laying in about 2 weeks if you increase the light now, I also give my girls a treat of some catfood for extra protein besides the 17% layer.