Need advice on breeding Golden Cuckoo Marans

[Allisha]

We have five Golden Cuckoo Marans that are just over a year old. We really enjoy the breed, and plan on breeding them, and slowly transitioning our flock to pure Marans in a few years. We can't really tell all of the hens apart at the moment, but I will provide a few pictures if anyone wants to give us a 'general rating' on the hens. Getting second opinions on the rooster is what we majorly want. His legs ARE feathered, but the actual feather parts of been rubbed/pecked off, but close up you can see the shafts all there. He also had a bad bout of frostbite this winter, so the prongs on his comb are kind of all gone.





The next few are pictures that were taken last fall and summer, when he was about 6 months old.


This was when he had the little bump on his toe, and a scratch that was inflicted from something.

 

[Allisha]

Should I get better pictures, or are these okay?

 

[Fred's Hens]

My knowledge of the Marans' Standard is not expert, but to me this appears to be just a very high tailed, criss/cross Barred Rock-ish, barnyard bird sold as a Marans. Golden Cuckoo isn't an accepted variety so it could be that you're part of a working group intending to breed toward the standard and get these accepted? If so, you've got a steep, uphill climb as you may know.

In any case, I see yellow feet, i.e., yellow skin which a Marans does not have. They are white skinned birds. I might suggest you join the Marans Club, if you already aren't, and work with others trying to perfect such a variety. The breed overall is not in good shape in this country and if you'll forgive a personal opinion, one reason is that those supporting the breed need to bear down and focus more. The energy is far too divided into far too many varietal attempts, diluting the efforts.

 

[Allisha]

Thankyou for the opinion! I shall not use him at all then. I really want to perfect them, so I shall join a group as you suggested. W bought them from Meyers, and although I understand that they should look extremely opposite of the standard. However, for birds so expensive, they need to make sure they are not selling me a mutt!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Sorry. Hatcheries serve a vital purpose but selling birds for breeding to the Standard or breeding for exhibition? That's a thing hatcheries are quite poor at, just being honest.

The yellow shanks is not just a fault. I looked up the Standard and yellow skin, yellow shanks is a DQ. That means simply that the bird is considered not to be of the breed, it is so sober. So, by the strictest sense applied, no, the bird shown is not a Marans, not with yellow skin. End of story.

Yes, connect up good Marans people first and foremost. Secondly, connect up anyone working seriously on the variety, the Golden Cuckoo and take the time to find out where things stand with this variety. I'd suggest a couple of social network avenues to do this, but also jump right into the Marans club and swim in the deep end of the pool. LOL Enjoy.

 

[3riverschick]

My knowledge of the Marans' Standard is not expert, but to me this appears to be just a very high tailed, criss/cross Barred Rock-ish, barnyard bird sold as a Marans. Golden Cuckoo isn't an accepted variety so it could be that you're part of a working group intending to breed toward the standard and get these accepted? If so, you've got a steep, uphill climb as you may know.

In any case, I see yellow feet, i.e., yellow skin which a Marans does not have. They are white skinned birds. I might suggest you join the Marans Club, if you already aren't, and work with others trying to perfect such a variety. The breed overall is not in good shape in this country and if you'll forgive a personal opinion, one reason is that those supporting the breed need to bear down and focus more. The energy is far too divided into far too many varietal attempts, diluting the efforts.

Yes, Yes, preach it again, Fred! Newcomer to the breed, pick just one color, one without Blue and work to make it great. Don't cross strains, improve the excellence you start with. here's how to find good Marans. first look up the egg show results online. Make a short list of the 4 or 5 breeders who are winning consistently with the color you are interested in. Now go to the online poultry show results and make a short list of the 4-5 breeders who are winning consistently in quality competition , esp. over multiple generations. Now compare the lists and see which names are on both. Check and see which of your short list breeders are using the same strain or same strain for the foundation of their line. Choose one of them which makes your heart sing and buy the very best you can from the breeder.Tell the breeder you want to found a flock and need birds which can be line-bred. Do not, I repeat, do not cross strains to found your flock. Way too much diversity there. Plenty of diversity in just one strain of Marans. Let the breeder of your birds help you with breeding decisions for the 1st 3 seasons, until you get to understand how the flock inherits traits amoungst itself. Then you will be in a position to cull wisely and mate the birds correctly. Do not start with eggs or baby chicks! Start with "started birds" or adult birds. I cannot stress this strongly enough!! This time of year you should be able to obtain some breeders which a breeder is thru using because the breeder already has enough get from them. You just need a season or two from those birds to start your flock.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA