Let's talk Golden Cuckoo Marans!

[chickee]

Yeah, wouldn't that be great!

We considered ourselves lucky having gotten two females and two males out of a hatching egg order of 6 eggs! Next year maybe I can snag some of yours...

I would love to send you some eggs next year.

Sorry it didn't work out this year. Looks like the hens bred back to their son was producing the yellow legs, not the pullets bred back to their father.

I bought some wheaten Marans eggs from a person in Texas that shows them and plan on experimenting with crossing them with my GCMs to make some new blood. The rooster I am keeping has super red hackles and is jet black. A beautiful, looks to be, show quality bird. Hatched from a really dark egg too.

 

[buckabucka]

My pullets are just over 12 weeks old now. It's going to be a while, but I am already excited to see what their eggs look like!

 

[Our Roost]

I am surprised to see these birds without combs and wattles. Even at 12 weeks? I don't care for my GCM's much but I do enjoy their eggs! Good size, bright yolk and great color.

 

[buckabucka]

I am surprised to see these birds without combs and wattles. Even at 12 weeks? I don't care for my GCM's much but I do enjoy their eggs! Good size, bright yolk and great color.

It is a bit surprising, but from photos I have seen, it is typical. This is my first experience with pullets. Last year I hatched all cockerels. I do have one adult hen, but she was purchased as an adult.

 

[chickee]

I am surprised to see these birds without combs and wattles. Even at 12 weeks? I don't care for my GCM's much but I do enjoy their eggs! Good size, bright yolk and great color.

Small combs now equal nice sized combs as adults. Nothing uglier than oversized, floppy combs on Marans.

From this . .


To this . .

 

[chickspea]

 

[chickspea]

These are the best pics. I'm thinking two cockerels. Thoughts?

Mine that looked like yours is a cockerel. They are some of the most beautiful birds, and very friendly, too.

 

[Our Roost]

Too cute! Now tell me, how did you determine or guess they were cockerels?

 

[chickspea]

Too cute! Now tell me, how did you determine or guess they were cockerels?

By the overall grey shade and big bright yellow spot on their head. Hens are brown, and don't have so large yellow head spots..
GCM is more or less accurately autosexing..
But they are the cutest . We were decided not to keep any cockerels and we will definitely keep Cookie, our GCM rooster.

 

[chickee]

Boys are much lighter with a bluish grey cast to their bodies and multiple head spots.


Girls have reddish brown bodies with a smaller, cream colored head spot.