barred rock vs cuckoo maran chick

[dogrepair]

My hatchery order arrives next week, and I feel like I pretty much know how to tell the different varieties apart (except the araucanas which apparently can look like almost anything). But there will be both barred rock chicks and cuckoo maran chicks in the mix - can anyone tell me how to tell who's who?

Thanks very much

 

[sherrydeanne]

The answer: Not easily

Marans often have lighter legs, but in chicks they seem to often look very similar. In my limited experience, BR's tend (depends on the lines, I'm sure) to have more blackwash on the legs than marans.

 

[RAREROO]

Hatcheries do not have Araucanas or Ameraucans as they falsly advertise, their birds are Easter Egger mutts. But those should have little beards that you can tell them apart pretty easily.

As for the Marans and the Rocks. Their won't be much difference in the dayold chicks buy as they get older, the marans will feather faster than the barred rocks and they should have white legs and less crisp barring than the BRs.

 

[snowhorse]

I will have to post pictures of my Cuckoo Maran from Murray McMurray. They sound like they are BR's and not CM's based on what I have read on this thread but thats not what I ordered. My Cuckoo's have darker splahes on their legs and yellow skin....When I get access to a computer I will post them. They were hatched 2/5. That way maybe you can tell what the CMs atleast should like ( pending that is what they infact are haha)

 

[Illia]

Ditto on the Araucana thing - You don't have Araucanas, as no hatchery sells them. It is a lie, and they are simply mutt chickens that lay different colors of eggs. Real Araucanas are rumplesss, tufted, and only lay blue eggs. Also, they only come in a couple colors.

As for the Marans vs BR's - The best way to tell as they grow up is that the Marans are supposed to have pink-tinted legs, the BR's having yellow legs. Watch out, though. I've heard a couple hatcheries crossbreed theirs or just plain sell BR's under false claim, as everyone does with Araucanas

 

[dogrepair]

Thanks for the info guys. Boy I hope they don't give me "fake" marans.. I was really looking forward to seeing those dark eggs.

 

[Illia]

Well that you may or may not see - Hatchery Cuckoo Marans are known for laying eggs just a little darker than your average brown egg, sorry. If you want something truly dark, like what you see in photos and advertisements - Go ask around these forums for some Black Copper Marans!