Cuckoo Marans

[Chickielady]

Hi guys, We have been quiet lately, and have finsihed building our house (finally) and moved in, and then we sat down...........LOL
Anyways, did heavy culling last fall of my Silver Cuckoo Flock, and hatched a mess o'chicks, and this is the rouster for this winter's hatching:

First is the 3 main 2014 Silver Cuckoo Marans Cockerels:


Can you put a cup and saucer on his back ?
Yes.







Anyways, there is 9 pullets to be used in the breeding, and 4 cockerels seen here, I am jazzed about it & hoping beyond hope that the egg color has improved, and is bigger !

Much much nicer tail set, heavy full breast, longer back than last year !


The ancient Blue Ameracuana on the left is about 4 years old, and lays a huge blue egg every single day.
She is in there cuz she makes excellent OE babies.
Ok next post will be a few pullets.

 

[Chickielady]

OK...now a few of the pullets, which are alot younger..being only a few mo old, are still separate from the cockerels, who are 5 mo old and ready, if ya know what I mean.


The pullet at the far end, and the little one in between, are not part of this breeding group.
These are a mixed group of Crele Chantecler, Cuckoo Marans, and Bielefelders in a growing out pen.

Here is 2 of the pullets that I could finally get to stand still, and very pleased with their confirmation so far...looks like this winter's breeding will be quite exciting !

 

[Wynette]

OK...now a few of the pullets, which are alot younger..being only a few mo old, are still separate from the cockerels, who are 5 mo old and ready, if ya know what I mean.


The pullet at the far end, and the little one in between, are not part of this breeding group.
These are a mixed group of Crele Chantecler, Cuckoo Marans, and Bielefelders in a growing out pen.

Here is 2 of the pullets that I could finally get to stand still, and very pleased with their confirmation so far...looks like this winter's breeding will be quite exciting !

Hiya! So glad you were able to get some pics, and since you asked for my feedback on conformation, here are my thoughts, based solely on these pics. They're not great pics to be able to see a ton, as they are not taken directly from the side, but - in the top pic, the pullet closest to the camera, is extremely knock-kneed. I would not use her for breeding. I would like to see more pics of the pullet 2nd from the top in the upper picture; is that the same pullet to the right in the lower pic? If so, in just a quick look, she would be the only one I would be using to move forward, personally. The one toward the camera in the bottom pic has an extremely pinched tail...it's never a bad thing to have one really nice one to move your forward, though!

Crossed fingers for awesome egg color!

 

[Chickielady]

Hiya! So glad you were able to get some pics, and since you asked for my feedback on conformation, here are my thoughts, based solely on these pics. They're not great pics to be able to see a ton, as they are not taken directly from the side, but - in the top pic, the pullet closest to the camera, is extremely knock-kneed. I would not use her for breeding. I would like to see more pics of the pullet 2nd from the top in the upper picture; is that the same pullet to the right in the lower pic? If so, in just a quick look, she would be the only one I would be using to move forward, personally. The one toward the camera in the bottom pic has an extremely pinched tail...it's never a bad thing to have one really nice one to move your forward, though!

Crossed fingers for awesome egg color!

Crimany is this the end of the thread ?

 

[Chickielady]

Beautiful marans they have obviously been looked after well

Awesome gorgeous birds, males & females as well !

 

[Olive Oil]

What are

I have to get some updated photos but I am very pleased with my French cuckoos

What are your eggs like?

 

[Chickielady]

I have my this gen pullets laying and as I suspected, eggs are much smaller than my "good ol'girls"

Hard to deal with, but I saved the good ol' girls, and they still have jumbo dark eggs.
The cockerel I saved this year (shown earlier above) is AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!

His back cannot get any longer, so we have been rid of the dreaded short back/squirrel tail

I am having some surgery soon, and after that will dive deeper into my breeding for this year.

HI EVERYONE !

 

[Chickielady]

My three month old cuckoo maran rooster...already attempting the crow!

This baby is a barred plymouth rock cockerel, yellow feets & all.

No Cuckoo marans has such barred plumage.

 

[Chickielady]

Ok this generation pullets laying & awesome /huge/ dark brown sugar eggs !!

Ad will go up soon !

 

[Chickielady]

Here is this years breeders, chosen from the ones seen prior to this page.
I have culled hard (thanks Wynette !) and I did include 1 hen that had a higher tail set than I'd like, but the rest of her is awesome:










The hen above, has 1 flight primary with this white stripe, wonder if that is an issue ?
The rest of her wings are fine.
But check out Bue's straight back !
Lost that squirrel tail finally !
Walt used to say: Can you put a cup & saucer on that bird's back ?

YES !