Maran's -- Cuckoo or Copper, What Is The Difference?

[WoofMeowCluck]

Hello!

My question should speak loud and clear what a newbie I am --- sorry about that!! But, I'm a fast learner.

I've been looking for a breed of chicken and am having ZERO luck, I think (maybe) because I'm asking for the wrong thing?
I thought I was looking for Black Cuckoo Maran's. I see there are also Black Copper Maran's and French Copper Marans.

Since I want girls that lay very very DARK chocolate colored eggs which Maran would be the correct one to ask for in the Wanted To Buy forum?

I'm confused by the French, Cuckoo, and Copper.

Could someone please explain the difference to me?

THANK YOU!!!

 

[joedie]

Black Copper Marans lay the darkest eggs. Cuckoo Marans are barred and look similar to Barred Rocks. French have feathering on the legs. The English standard of the BCM does not. So it doesn't make any difference as far as the egg color goes if they are feathered legged or not. That's my undertanding anyway. Hope it helps!

BTW,

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Thank you for the welcome!!

Also, thanks for giving me the scoop. I need to look for the Black COPPER Maran for the darkest eggs. Next I need a miracle to find them at 4 months of age or older

We're having such a good time with our chickens, who knew it would be this fun?!

Thanks again for your help!

 

[joedie]

No problem, I got 21 feather legged BCM chicks this spring and only got 7 cockerals. I think that's pretty good odds. They mature very quickly and I could tell the roos at 3 weeks old. I can't wait until they are big enough to let out to free range with the older mixed flock but right now I'm pretty sure my EE roo could do some damage to the young cockerals.

 

[Debbi]

Check out this site for more info

http://maransofamericaclub.com/

The Black Copper lays the darkest eggs. The Cuckoo Marans will lay a decent egg too. Breeding for the bird's correct conformation AND dark egg color is something that all breeders (should) strive for. There are other color varieties too! Golden Cuckoo, Blue Copper, Blue, Black, White, Birchen, Splash, and some others in the making, just to confuse you a bit more!

Go to the site and read up. There is also another thread on here about Marans.

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Thank you, I did check out the site. It's going to be hard to find someone that wants to sell pullets over 4 months old

I'll keep trying!

I'm loving this board but having a hard time finding posts that I'm following or have written on. Newbie at a LOT of things!

Thanks again!

 

[Debbi]

Have you tried the For Sale ads here? Go to the Index page, scroll down till you get to "Hatching Eggs", then a few more down is "Chicks 8 weeks and Older". You might be able to find some in there. Or, put an ad in the "Wanted" section.

 

[racuda]

Quote:
In the list of topics, there will be a little black dot beside of the topic that you have posted in.

 

[southerngamebirds1]

I hatched out a bunch of c m's and got rid of all but this one (I believe) exceptionally fast growing pair. The roo wasn't much bigger than my hand and he was crowing already! And alpha roo. So I'll see what color eggs I'll get, if dark, I'll hatch me a bunch from them. What happens if you cross a bcm with a cuckoo? Will they be barred offspring or black?

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Thanks to all for the suggestions!!