Let's talk Golden Cuckoo Marans!

[Our Roost]

chickee, the birds you mentioned may have been used for the COLOR itself but NOT the marans breed. Other parent birds bloodlines were used to create the cuckoo marans. The genetics from their parent birds are within and although you try to cull out those leg features, (whcih takes time) they may show up during any generation of birds. They are beautiful, but trying to define and tweak their repeat is very difficult. I read more articles on the Marans than naught while I sat in wait for 2 years to acquire some of the goldens. It was by pure dumb luck that I acquired some. I truly wish I had gotten the black coppeers instead. The eggs are known to be the darkest of the breed and they are more noted, especially if you can get the feathered leg version. The U.S. only has the clean legged birds.

 

[rainbowchick]

While the genes might be there, they are not impossible to weed out. If my rooster has white legs, but carries the yellow gene, then 50% of his offspring (from my yellow legged pullet) would be yellow legged and 50% would be white legged. If he doesn't carry it, then 100% would display white legs, but 50% would be carriers of the yellow gene. So, I plan to test mate. I figure if my rooster and yellow legged pullet both came from white legged birds (which I verified with the breeder), then there's a 25% chance my rooster doesn't carry yellow. Since two carriers crossed together equals 25% pure white, 50% carriers, 25% yellow.
Also, just so you know, there are actually lots of breeders that specialize in French Marans (aka feathered legged Marans). In fact, both of my GOOD pullets, and my rooster all have beautifully feathered legs. But not the yellow legged pullet, go figure...

 

[Our Roost]

Wow! I raise belgian malines meat birds and I love the feathered legs. They almost look like they are wearing bunny slippers. One of the standards of perfection for this breed is their white beaks and white legs. At some point after WW2 they were hit with a devastating disease and almost wiped out. Some of what was left got cross bred with some yellow legged birds. Those of us whom have them occaisionally work to cull out those born with the yellow legs. We are making good progress but it is taking a while to bring the breed back in any staus quo lacking any imperfections.
I was going to use the marans as an outcross project being that the malines was a parent bird in its creation. I opted for cochins the second time around instead as it was a parent bird in the makings of the malines. It will basically add new blood and not much if anything more. I may get some better leg feathering and better temperment. I have some white cochins now and we absolutely adore them. They love attention and surely dont mind being handled.
Good luck on your genetic project but be patient in the outcome. Every season brings new hope!

 

[rainbowchick]

The GCMs are actually my almost-nine-year old son's project. He is already up to his ears in genetics lessons... Hopefully this will be a FUN learning experience!

 

[maralpz2006]

My golden cuckoo maran is 2 months and he started crowed yesterday

 

[sophiaw00]

This is my newest addition, Vivie. She's a GCM ordered from MPC. The rooster is a blue cuckoo marans. I think even though she's a hatchery chick, she turned out beautiful! What do you think?

 

[buckabucka]

Vivid is a nice looking hen! Has she started laying yet?

 

[sophiaw00]

No she hasn't. My original 8 girls were raised to 4 weeks with her, then I bought them. I eventually returned to buy Vivie & the rooster but she's been being bullied by my original hens so she's a little stressed out. My girls should be laying within the next week or two and I bet she'll be the last to lay from the stress.

 

[morbius18]

What age do the golden cuckoo marans chicks start to 'color' up? I've got a golden copper rooster over a black copper hen with really dark eggs. According to the chicken calculator, 50% should be golden.

 

[jaybrenn]

Has anyone here created their own line of Golden Cuckoos? I'm just curious what the preferred variety to cross with the cuckoo is.