The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: [email protected] on July 01, 2013, 07:38:42 pm

Title: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: [email protected] on July 01, 2013, 07:38:42 pm: Hi there! I'm looking after 2 cuckoo maran little boys for a relative, who need a new home. I would keep them myself, but as I have two cockerels already, keeping them is not an option! Would someone out there like to give these a new home please free of charge? I'm in Hickling, Norfolk, by the way. I hope someone can take these as despatching them is not an option-they are lovely boys, and healthy! Many thanks-Linda
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: HesterF on July 01, 2013, 11:03:27 pm: Doh! I was hoping you were looking for one - I have a lovely little chap that is in need of a home too. Suspect dispatch will be the option in our case although he's so small still, it might take a while.

H
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: Bodger on July 02, 2013, 09:14:00 am: You can't keep them all.
Every year I breed about 40 to 50 chicks and of course, if I'm lucky, then about half of them are males. The only decision that I have to make, is whether or not to kill them as soon as their gender becomes apparent, or to fatten them up and put them in the freezer. This year, I have Light Sussex and Welsummers. They're all healthy and really well bred, but as I said, you can't keep them all.
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: suziequeue on July 02, 2013, 09:31:24 am: Don't use Preloved to find a home for them. I understand that the site is used by people looking for fighting cockerels.
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: FiB on July 02, 2013, 09:47:12 am: Shame - I would love a maran cockrel - but I'm in North Wales.... if anyone near bala reads this and has one to spare :eyelashes: :eyelashes: :eyelashes: :eyelashes:
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: Bodger on July 02, 2013, 10:03:59 am: Hey FiB, I'm not too far away from you, so how about a LS or a Welsummer instead? :innocent:
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: FiB on July 02, 2013, 03:13:41 pm: Quote from: Bodger on July 02, 2013, 10:03:59 am
Hey FiB, I'm not too far away from you, so how about a LS or a Welsummer instead? :innocent:
Ta, but got LS! Will look up welsummer!
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: Bodger on July 02, 2013, 03:23:20 pm: Are your LS anything like this FiB? :innocent:

(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb334/kcooper2011/farmyard2180.jpg) (http://s1200.photobucket.com/user/kcooper2011/media/farmyard2180.jpg.html)
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: FiB on July 02, 2013, 08:12:55 pm: yep plenty of them white and black ones (and eaten plenty too!!)! I have some lovely shiney black ones(a bit of a green sheen towards tail that I thought were marans but looking at pics who knows!!!! Id like some more of those! Also got lots of browney ones (mostly ex batts) so no to the welsummer thanks. Can you tell how I pick my chickens??????? :roflanim: :roflanim: .
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: doganjo on July 02, 2013, 08:42:48 pm: Bodger, is the bird on the right a Maran? Our chicks look speckled like that.
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: Bodger on July 02, 2013, 10:41:32 pm: Yup! Thats Matilda our one and only Maran. She's got to be five or six ears old now. :chook:
Title: Re: cuckoo maran cockerels
Post by: doganjo on July 03, 2013, 10:54:45 am: Not sure what we've got yet - I can't see the difference between them yet but all five seem healthy - one is slightly smaller than the others, but David B said it was small when it hatched. Anybody know how to tell boys from girls and when?