McMurray Free Rare Exotic - Cuckoo Maran or Dominique? 2 Weeks (Now 3.5 weeks)

It may be too soon to tell - but I wanted to get some opinions - this chick is 2 weeks old as of Tuesday. Cockerel or Pullet AND Cuckoo Maran or Dominique??? Its a little tougher to tell as these are hatchery chicks - so they aren't a perfect match for all the traits of a pure bred bird. This chick is from Murray McMurray.


Sex Traits:
-Wide barring - I've read that is a cockerel trait
-No tail feathers yet - late tail feathers also a cockerel trait? Or is this both sexes in these breeds?
-Silvery back (not really black - more silver color) - cockerel trait?

Breed Traits:
-Yellow/orange beak and feet - not sure what this tells us - Dominique or cuckoo maran trait?
-'clean' legs and feet - I believe Maran's should have feathered feet - but I don't think McMurray's Cuckoo Marans have feathers on their feet - so this might not tell us anything.

Above is just what I have observed. I'd love any and all opinions. I'm leaning toward cockerel as the traits I have under sex seem to lean that way (but could be completely wrong). On breed - no idea - although I'd guess cuckoo maran as I doubt McMurray would put a Dominique as a 'rare exotic'.
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Does it have a rose comb? It looks like it. I would say dominique because they have rose combs and marans have single/straight combs.

Rose comb = Dominique.

I believe that's a cockerel.

donrae said:

Rose comb = Dominique.

I believe that's a cockerel.

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Now at 3.5 weeks. Dominique? Cockerel or Pullet?

Still no comb that I can see but its flat (looking Rose as noted above) and turning red. Tail is just starting to come in. Does this still look like Dominique Cockerel??? I'm thinking so. Only thing that makes me question Cockerel is that its not any bigger than the other chicks (RHR, Black Australop, EE and White Leghorn).

Thoughts?

Latest photos:

JoshFig said:

Now at 3.5 weeks. Dominique? Cockerel or Pullet?

Still no comb that I can see but its flat (looking Rose as noted above) and turning red. Tail is just starting to come in. Does this still look like Dominique Cockerel??? I'm thinking so. Only thing that makes me question Cockerel is that its not any bigger than the other chicks (RHR, Black Australop, EE and White Leghorn).

Thoughts?

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Still a Dominique cockerel. Don't think he's going to change to something else.

ETA: Cockerel. Size doesn't matter much at this age. He's clearly got a redder comb at 3.5 weeks. He also is light--which means he has two barring genes. It's impossible for pullets to have two barring genes.

popsicle said:

Still a Dominique cockerel. Don't think he's going to change to something else.

ETA: Cockerel. Size doesn't matter much at this age. He's clearly got a redder comb at 3.5 weeks. He also is light--which means he has two barring genes. It's impossible for pullets to have two barring genes.

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Thanks for the reply - I figured we were far enough along to definitively sex him.

Domonique cockerel