Jess-W: Hi, you have what is referred to as a silver cuckoo marans aka cuckoo marans. I actually think they are more popular and available than the golden cuckoos. I have the golden cuckoos but am thinking of getting some regular cuckoos with the feathered legs. I have lots of other kinds of Marans too but my favorite is one of my golden cuckoo roos (shhh don't tell the others lol). I think all the Marans seem to have friendly personalities. My cuckoos are definitely the Silliest and always keep me smiling.
My favs are the Golden Cuckoos I have 2 kinds of Cuckoos and I'm going to try and get a pic of what I think is a Blue Cuckoo I have I do have some Black Coppers but my favs are the Cuckoos and I plan on breeding those.
You have a very handsome Cuckoo rooster! I don't think that Cuckoo's are less popular, many people only have cuckoo's and that is all they breed. I personally don't breed them because I am not a fan of barred birds unless they are blue. I have seen some stunning cuckoo birds that lay lovely eggs but I personally appreciate the Black Copper and Blue Copper varieties because of their ability to lay the darkest of the Marans eggs and I am in love with their colors and personalities.
In the mix of chicks that I got in February, I did not get any Cuckoo hens. If I were going to go that direction, what would you recommend? I'd like to have a variety of colored egg layers. I have a couple of phoenix hens and I understand that they lay lightly tinted eggs, 3 EEs, and a variety of brown egg layers. I am in love with the avatar pics that show the different color eggs. I would love to be able to give family and friends cartons of eggs that look like that!
If you like a colorful egg basket, a Marans hen or two is a must! Of course, there are also Welsummers and Penedesencas
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I love my Marans, though. And since you've already got a Marans rooster, you should get him some girls!
You might also consider some olive eggers to add color to your basket. You can get chicks/eggs here on BYC, or you could make your own by crossing the Marans roo with the EE hens!
You have a very handsome Cuckoo rooster! I don't think that Cuckoo's are less popular, many people only have cuckoo's and that is all they breed. I personally don't breed them because I am not a fan of barred birds unless they are blue. I have seen some stunning cuckoo birds that lay lovely eggs but I personally appreciate the Black Copper and Blue Copper varieties because of their ability to lay the darkest of the Marans eggs and I am in love with their colors and personalities.
In the mix of chicks that I got in February, I did not get any Cuckoo hens. If I were going to go that direction, what would you recommend? I'd like to have a variety of colored egg layers. I have a couple of phoenix hens and I understand that they lay lightly tinted eggs, 3 EEs, and a variety of brown egg layers. I am in love with the avatar pics that show the different color eggs. I would love to be able to give family and friends cartons of eggs that look like that!
If you added some Cuckoo hens and you liked their egg color you would be all set. Say she lays a little lighter egg than you are looking for you could always purchase some other variety of Marans to add a darker egg to your basket, but beware just because someone may sell them as Marans and say that they came from a dark egg....does not mean that they will infact lay a dark egg. IMO when purchasing Marans a person really needs to do their homework on breeders their birds. Marans can be pretty spendy and it is very disappointing to hear what peeps pay for their birds to be totally bummed when they get their first egg.
You could also add some Welsummers to your flock for Terra Cotta colored eggs.