Week Old Black Copper Marans Chicks - Sexing by Feather color? Pictures added!

[JillZ]

I keep finding outdated threads, but in case anyone finds this, just wanted to say that I am 2/2 so far with feather sexing of my BCMs. I have 10 in the incubator, so will see on the next batch. My first was an extra BCM sent from the hatchery (Cackle). His wing feathers started becoming coppery on day 5 (or maybe that was just when I noticed!). They are now almost 4 weeks and he is definitely a cockerel. None of the others (pullets) had the copper on the wings.
On day 2 of my own hatch, one of the chicks started with copper on the wings. I guessed (rightly), that he was a cockerel too. It is now day 7 and his comb is pointier, taller and pinker. I can almost guarantee that he is a cockerel.
Anxious to see if my suspicions are right in the next batch, due in 2 weeks. I am leaning very strongly (95%) that feather sexing appears to be quite easy with the BCMs. Granted, they must be of good parentage, as questionable breeding may result in lots of copper leakage. However, copper leakage on wing feathers seems to point directly to cockerels.
Just my opinion. Wish someone above had actually posted their results.

 

[One Chick Two]

I keep finding outdated threads, but in case anyone finds this, just wanted to say that I am 2/2 so far with feather sexing of my BCMs. I have 10 in the incubator, so will see on the next batch. My first was an extra BCM sent from the hatchery (Cackle). His wing feathers started becoming coppery on day 5 (or maybe that was just when I noticed!). They are now almost 4 weeks and he is definitely a cockerel. None of the others (pullets) had the copper on the wings.
On day 2 of my own hatch, one of the chicks started with copper on the wings. I guessed (rightly), that he was a cockerel too. It is now day 7 and his comb is pointier, taller and pinker. I can almost guarantee that he is a cockerel.
Anxious to see if my suspicions are right in the next batch, due in 2 weeks. I am leaning very strongly (95%) that feather sexing appears to be quite easy with the BCMs. Granted, they must be of good parentage, as questionable breeding may result in lots of copper leakage. However, copper leakage on wing feathers seems to point directly to cockerels.
Just my opinion. Wish someone above had actually posted their results.

Hi JillZ,

If you are seeing copper breakthrough on the wing by day 5, this isn't a sign of what sex (that is a coincidence, or you are seeing other signs)...this is a sign that the bird is likely split with Wheaten or has Autosomal red breakthrough- all chicks should always have black/ white wings.

Both issues are not good, the first means that it is a cross, the second that it has color issues at best.

Here is a Wheaten X BCM chick... notice copper breakthrough on wing and very pale feet.



This chick has much lighter, softer breakthrough at tips and is Autosomal red. Again, neither should be used as breeders.

This is a pullet who had Autosomal red as a chick. (Her parents had been test mated for Wheaten and tested out cleanly.)

This hen failed her test mating, and was split with Wheaten. Notice she has deep copper mealy mossiness- it was everwhere... including wings, chest, tail, and she had a lot of feather shafting too.

 

[JillZ]

Hi JillZ,

If you are seeing copper breakthrough on the wing by day 5, this isn't a sign of what sex (that is a coincidence, or you are seeing other signs)...this is a sign that the bird is likely split with Wheaten or has Autosomal red breakthrough- all chicks should always have black/ white wings.

Both issues are not good, the first means that it is a cross, the second that it has color issues at best.

Here is a Wheaten X BCM chick... notice copper breakthrough on wing and very pale feet.



This chick has much lighter, softer breakthrough at tips and is Autosomal red. Again, neither should be used as breeders.

This is a pullet who had Autosomal red as a chick. (Her parents had been test mated for Wheaten and tested out cleanly.)

This hen failed her test mating, and was split with Wheaten. Notice she has deep copper mealy mossiness- it was everwhere... including wings, chest, tail, and she had a lot of feather shafting too.

Thank you so much for explaining And for posting pics! This helps a lot. I was planning to give away the two copper winged chicks as I didn't want to breed them (and they are cockerels.) So that really helps, especially down the road if someone else just wanted a layer and not one to breed. My other BCM cockerel is already absolutely beautiful (to me, anyway) at 4 weeks and has a really sweet disposition. Not that his coloring is apparent, but his behavior and looks are really nice. I am really looking forward to his coloring. None of my pullets have copper yet, so am wondering when that would start to show? I have had BCMs in the past, but they were "taken" by foxes before I was able to mate them. So far, my favorite breed. Seems that their combs develop much quicker than other breeds also. And their comb colors change to a deeper pink early. Easier to sex that way. You also may be right as far as my seeing other traits in the copper winged to convince me that they were cockerels early. Most probably, I was 2/2 because of luck!

 

[One Chick Two]

Thank you so much for explaining And for posting pics! This helps a lot. I was planning to give away the two copper winged chicks as I didn't want to breed them (and they are cockerels.) So that really helps, especially down the road if someone else just wanted a layer and not one to breed. My other BCM cockerel is already absolutely beautiful (to me, anyway) at 4 weeks and has a really sweet disposition. Not that his coloring is apparent, but his behavior and looks are really nice. I am really looking forward to his coloring. None of my pullets have copper yet, so am wondering when that would start to show? I have had BCMs in the past, but they were "taken" by foxes before I was able to mate them. So far, my favorite breed. Seems that their combs develop much quicker than other breeds also. And their comb colors change to a deeper pink early. Easier to sex that way. You also may be right as far as my seeing other traits in the copper winged to convince me that they were cockerels early. Most probably, I was 2/2 because of luck!

No problem! Luck... exactly.

Make sure you disclose to the new owner and be clear that they should not be bred in a BCM breeding program. Might be fine for olive eggers though.

Your pullets will start showing hackle soon to a few months old. Some girls may be overmelanized- where they do not ever get a copper hackle. Ideally, these girls should only be used for a colorful male who has excellent copper balance, copper ear tufts and up to 10% chest leakage to get hackles on the next gen females.

Their combs do develop much quicker than other breeds. In some lines you can tell the males at birth.

Good luck and enjoy them! I suggest joining the Black Copper Disscussion board here, and on FB, Marans Fanciers to get answers from questions you will run into.

 

[JillZ]

No problem! Luck... exactly.

Make sure you disclose to the new owner and be clear that they should not be bred in a BCM breeding program. Might be fine for olive eggers though.

Your pullets will start showing hackle soon to a few months old. Some girls may be overmelanized- where they do not ever get a copper hackle. Ideally, these girls should only be used for a colorful male who has excellent copper balance, copper ear tufts and up to 10% chest leakage to get hackles on the next gen females.

Their combs do develop much quicker than other breeds. In some lines you can tell the males at birth.

Good luck and enjoy them! I suggest joining the Black Copper Disscussion board here, and on FB, Marans Fanciers to get answers from questions you will run into.

Thank you. I will definitely do both!

 

[BriarwoodsFarm]

Hi all, I joined a while ago but haven't posted much. We started our flock with 3 older hens and a pullet from a nearby egg farm, we lost the top hen to a bobcat but got 2 more pullets (5 months old) from someone who was moving. Just bought 3 little French BCM chicks, a week old now. Hoping for at least one pullet!

The one with the white eyebrows is much smaller and more delicate than the other 2, but not really submissive to me, though the lowest in pecking order. Also has the most developed tail feathers, but I don't know about the comb?





DD and I are split on this one - a black comb rather than peachy/flesh colored, not quite as developed tail feathers, and larger than the chipmunk-looking one, but quite thick legs (or maybe it's the feathering?). I'm thinking male due to the thicker legs, DD thinks female.





At first we both thought this big one (about the same size as the other black-headed one) was a boy, but now DD is thinking girl. No real tail feathers yet though. What do you think?

 

[One Chick Two]

Hi all, I joined a while ago but haven't posted much. We started our flock with 3 older hens and a pullet from a nearby egg farm, we lost the top hen to a bobcat but got 2 more pullets (5 months old) from someone who was moving. Just bought 3 little French BCM chicks, a week old now. Hoping for at least one pullet!

The one with the white eyebrows is much smaller and more delicate than the other 2, but not really submissive to me, though the lowest in pecking order. Also has the most developed tail feathers, but I don't know about the comb?





DD and I are split on this one - a black comb rather than peachy/flesh colored, not quite as developed tail feathers, and larger than the chipmunk-looking one, but quite thick legs (or maybe it's the feathering?). I'm thinking male due to the thicker legs, DD thinks female.





At first we both thought this big one (about the same size as the other black-headed one) was a boy, but now DD is thinking girl. No real tail feathers yet though. What do you think?

Looking a little young to tell for sure, but #1 looks to have a cockerel- like comb. (The cockrels here usually have this look when little, exc.)pt in lines that did not select for early maturing males.)

#2 & #3 have the look of a pullet to me. Again, they are still pretty young and the photos aren't really good, so check back.

 

[BriarwoodsFarm]

Looking a little young to tell for sure, but #1 looks to have a cockerel- like comb. (The cockrels here usually have this look when little, exc.)pt in lines that did not select for early maturing males.)

#2 & #3 have the look of a pullet to me. Again, they are still pretty young and the photos aren't really good, so check back.

Thanks - though we could have sworn the little one was a female! What do you need for photos? I'll try to get some better ones.

 

[One Chick Two]

Thanks - though we could have sworn the little one was a female! What do you need for photos? I'll try to get some better ones.

Put the little one on a table, shoot straight on sideways, close, sharp and well lit. (Near a window, but not in direct sunlight.) I would like to make sure the tail is in there and wings.

 

[DRnNC]

I too have BCM's. Roo is from Bev Davis line. Hen looks just like the pics online. Lays really dark eggs. Both are feather legged. Now this is my first time ever using an incubator. I watched today as they hatched. All black with a little white on the breast. THEN comes out a yellow,beige chick from a chocolate egg. This pair has been together forever. What happen? No other Roo's in contact. Any ideas? I also hatched some white crested black polish. It takes forever to tell their sex, any tricks? Thanks for your help. JDR