Auto Sexed Olive Eggers and Auto Sexed Golden Cuckoo Marans- How to Auto Sex?

I have purchased auto-sexed Olive Eggers and auto-sexed Golden Cuckoo Marans that should be hatching out in my incubator in about a week. I would like to know if anyone knows what the differences in the male and females that I should look for to sex them? I know for my Cream Legbars the females have the chipmunk pattern and are darker than the males and the males have a light colored spot on the top of their head. I emailed the breeder that sold me the eggs, but have not heard back from him and I would really like to know.

Since these are apparently something the breeder made up, they're really going to have to be the one to answer. But, the only auto sexing I know of being commonly used is with the barring gene. So, I'm thinking the Olive eggers may be either a sex link, not auto sexing, with the spot being male and the solid being female. If they're actually auto sexing, then it should be the same rules as the Legbar, or a Rhodebar, etc. I'm not sure on the Marans, I've never heard of auto sexing Marans. I know pure barred birds you can sex them by size of head spot and other indicators of the double barring gene, but it's more of an art and takes a practiced eye.

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Thank you for your replies! I did find on his website that the female Golden Cuckoo Marans are darker than the males at hatching making it easier to distinguish their sex, but I cannot find any info on the Auto-Sexed Olive Eggers. Like you said though, if they are like the cream legbar they can be sexed by the spot on their head. It is just a little less than a week before they hatch so I will see what they look like then! I also have a larger size surprise egg they included with my shipment in my incubator that wasn't marked when they sent it to me. I have no idea what it is, but am really looking forward to finding out!

donrae said:

Since these are apparently something the breeder made up, they're really going to have to be the one to answer. But, the only auto sexing I know of being commonly used is with the barring gene. So, I'm thinking the Olive eggers may be either a sex link, not auto sexing, with the spot being male and the solid being female. If they're actually auto sexing, then it should be the same rules as the Legbar, or a Rhodebar, etc. I'm not sure on the Marans, I've never heard of auto sexing Marans. I know pure barred birds you can sex them by size of head spot and other indicators of the double barring gene, but it's more of an art and takes a practiced eye.

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Ask Pappa Poultry he will know. how are your hatch rates, and do you like the chicks ? I want to buy from him to.

Did you ever hear back from him on olive egger? I also messaged with no reply and some hatched last night with 2 more to go?

My hatch rates on the eggs were 40%. Not bad considering the post office must have thrown it around some. The corner of the box was smashed as well as one of the eggs. Papa's Poultry put in quite a few extras too! The Olive Eggers are beautiful chickens! They are 17 weeks now. I have one pullet and one rooster. The pullet is so friendly, jumps up on my lap and loves for me to pet her! Beautiful coloring! It's kind of hard to tell by the photos, but both of them are black with green highlights throughout. The rooster also has beautiful red/copper coloring as well! The Golden Cuckoo Marans are difficult to sex at birth. I posted pictures of mine here of them and everyone said rooster, but they are 17 weeks old now and to me they all look like they are pullets, whew! The last picture is of my three Golden Cuckoo Marans.

backyardchicks said:

I have purchased auto-sexed Olive Eggers and auto-sexed Golden Cuckoo Marans that should be hatching out in my incubator in about a week. I would like to know if anyone knows what the differences in the male and females that I should look for to sex them? I know for my Cream Legbars the females have the chipmunk pattern and are darker than the males and the males have a light colored spot on the top of their head. I emailed the breeder that sold me the eggs, but have not heard back from him and I would really like to know.

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@backyardchicks did you ever get an answer on sexing the Olive Eggers? I received a dozen eggs from Papas Poultry, 6 OE and 6 Cream Legbar. 3 eggs hatched and I've given up on the last two because it is already day 25! The 3rd chick pipped on day 24 and I had to assist this afternoon as well as give it a mini bath because the down was glued down.

I think that I have 3 roos, but the last one is not fluffed up yet so it is hard to tell. These are the first two:



I also cannot find any info anywhere on auto sexing Olive Eggers, so I am wondering if they will breed true?
Your birds are beautiful!

@Coop de Grass I contacted Papa's Poultry on this and he did get back to me. This is what he said:
"Oes are like rhodebars. Females have chipmunk stripes males lighter with spot on head. You can see some pictures on my website if you look up olive egger pullet and cockerel. Golden cuckoos are a bit more challenging. I need to update those pics but females are darker and less white spots on them. Males are lighter overall and more white on head and back."
My Olive Egger hen from Papa's Poultry is so friendly and is always coming up to me to sit on my lap! I had to rehome my Olive Egger rooster to a very nice home because I cannot keep roosters where I live, but the males are gorgeous!