7 week old Black Copper Marans

[Chicksandplants]

3 different birds. Thoughts?

 

[Percheron chick]

Girls

 

[Chicksandplants]

Girls

That is a huge relief, thank you!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I agree! All pullets

 

[Finnie]

I agree they look like pullets, but watch this one. I see some red coming in in the shoulder area.

 

[Painted Calls]

All are pullets!

 

[Chicksandplants]

I agree they look like pullets, but watch this one. I see some red coming in in the shoulder area.View attachment 3359630

They all have that coloring on their backs I think, which makes me skeptical of all of them. I thought BCM pullets were supposed to be basically all black. I’m really hoping they are all pullets though.

 

[Percheron chick]

They all have that coloring on their backs I think, which makes me skeptical of all of them. I thought BCM pullets were supposed to be basically all black. I’m really hoping they are all pullets though.

If they are hatchery birds you are going to see non SOP issues. Unlikely you are going to see chocolate eggs too.

 

[Chicksandplants]

If they are hatchery birds you are going to see non SOP issues. Unlikely you are going to see chocolate eggs too.

By issues are you meaning the wing coloring? They are from Privett hatchery, and they don’t specify their breeding procedure on the BCM, but I do hope the eggs are at least darker than my Barred Rock. I like knowing who lays what egg. A couple of mine are real hard to tell apart.

 

[Percheron chick]

It could be a number of things. Red on the wings, some white feathers, not true copper hackle feathers, light feathers on shanks, wrong comb, egg color... When you don't take the steps to eliminate these you just get farther and farther from the breed standard. Not critical in a backyard flock but not what most people are expecting. I have hatchery BCM and while they are prolific layers (another red flag) the egg color has been similar to my Welsummer.