Barred rock or cuckoo maran?

[RiverviewHen]

I have a couple hens that the Co Op sold to me as cuckoo marans. I am thinking they may be barred rocks since they do not have white legs. Is legs the only way to tell?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The cuckoo's pattern is less crisp too. Then of course the chocolate eggs (at least dark) Marans provide is another. Rock eggs are pale brown.

Looks like a Barred to me. Yellow legs and actual barring.

 

[RiverviewHen]

They are still young. No eggs yet. That is the only reason I bought them. I wanted the dark colored eggs. Oh well. I still love them.

 

[RiverviewHen]

she definitely has yellow legs

 

[biophiliac]

View attachment 1113473 she definitely has yellow legs

This one is a BR cockerel I believe - even tho I can't see the comb.

 

[RiverviewHen]

He will be headed for the freezer. It's comb is the same as the one posted up top. They are 5 months old and no crowing yet. My rooster also mounts them. So I am not sure what either of them are.

 

[biophiliac]

I say that because the one in the bottom pic has a lot more white which indicates a double dose of the barring allele, ie male. In my avatar the bird right in front of me is a boy and right next to him is the BR pullet - she appears almost black from behind but does in fact have barring.

ETA: Perhaps the seller will exchange for a pullet if that's what you paid for

 

[RiverviewHen]

I will get some better pics and post them for you. I had told my husband I thought one of them may be a rooster. This is a new breed for me.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I agree with the posters above...definitely a barred rock.
I have a pair now...they are nicer than I expected...lol.

 

[biophiliac]

You should easily be able to see a difference - the pullets look much darker with less white barring. They are a very nice breed.
[The first pic is Tina with her new owner - I had to re-home my birds ]