Does anyone have a Cuckoo Marans who goes broody?

[rancher hicks]

I have a hen who is about a year and tonight I found her in the nest and cranky. While she didn't peck at me she did squawk really loud. She's a hatchery girl. I'll keep an eye on her and see what happens. If she is that will be two in my coop as I have a Dominique who is sitting on eggs.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I've seen it a couple of times. Two different lines.

 

[Katy]

A couple of mine do.

 

[spamee34]

I was wonering this same question ! I want to get a few cuckoo's but didn't know if they were very good egg layers and if they would go broody who did you order her from? Is she a good layer? Anyways I wish you the best of luck with her.

 

[rancher hicks]

I purchase three from Ideal and she is one of those. I lost one to a coon but that's another story and posting. I have three that I bought from a guy in Amsterdam, NY for $10 each and a roo as chicks. I've got one that lays nice dark eggs and all my Cuckoo Marans are excellent layers. I average 4+ a day. Even in this cold weather. I attribute that to my feeding regimen and a light inside to extend the day hours. My marans aren't out much or hardly ever as I don't have a run for them. Yet!
I have 19 others who are let out in a run but don't lay as well. 4 are older Dels (over a year or more) Others are younger (1yr on 2/25) 3Aus, 3SlW,2GlW,2Dom (1 setting), 2BO,7DELs,(3hatchery).

I would check craigs and try to find eggs or chicks there. The hatchery birds aren't as dark feathered nor lay as dark eggs. Hopefully the Roo will help in this area. If she is broody she'll get the darkest of the eggs to sit on if I can work that out. Remember if you have a broody you can switch out eggs for the ones you want early in the game.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I noticed she's still there tonight and has been when I went to the coop during the day, so I gave her some of my preferred eggs. Dels and Marans. 5 so far but I may give her 2 more tomorrow.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd give her all the eggs I want her to hatch at one time to avoid the problems of a staggered hatch. Chicken eggs take about 21 days to hatch, some possibly less and some possibly more. If you don't start them all at the same time, the hen can be faced with the decision to bring her hatched chicks off the nest before the last eggs hatch or let the chicks that have hatched out starve and die of thirst. She will choose to take care of the already hatched chicks. I know chicks can survive 2 or 3 days without food and water, but the hen cannot count real well and some eggs hatch early and some late. I think you are setting yourself up for a potential problem if you plan on a staggered hatch.

You can remove the chicks as they hatch and brood them yourself to try to keep her on the nest longer, but that adds complications. They are yours and you can do as you wish. Some people do staggered hatches successfully. I don't try. Just wanted to alert you to a potential problem.

 

[rancher hicks]

I had a bantam hen who hatched 6 eggs a couple of days apart. I don't want her to have to many maybe 6-7, so maybe a couple more today won't hurt? Whatya think, a day apart won't hurt much will it?

I have to be choosey cuz i only want Dels and CM's. The Del's I have to be careful cuz the roo is in w/ other breeds. The CM's are seperate so their eggs are easy to select. I expect to make the switch this spring and put the Dels by themselves and the CM roo w/ the others. That way I can tell the CM' eggs apart from the mutt eggs.

 

[Ajvilla7]

I was wonering this same question ! I want to get a few cuckoo's but didn't know if they were very good egg layers and if they would go broody who did you order her from? Is she a good layer? Anyways I wish you the best of luck with her.

I have one mixed with my other four, and my cuckoo is loud two hours before she goes in the coop to lay, then she lays a xsmall light brown egg and she sits there for another couple of hours more. She does not want anyone around her because if i open the nesting box to check on her she gets nasty.