Barred Rocks or Marrans

[al6517]

Could you help me clarrify the main differences between these two breeds. I have 20 birds that are 8-10 wks old, they look like Barred Rocks and were sold to me as such. might they be Marrans ?
what are the differences between the leg color, and barring, I have also heard in this forum about a white dot on the head of a Barred Rock, what is this about. and where to look for it ?
My chicks are very healthy with light gray legs but some have a yellow tinge to them, not really orange, the barring is distinct on almost all of them but some seem much darker in coloring. when might I be able to recoginze the roosters first signs. ?
Thanks much
AL

 

[92caddy]

Marans should have white legs and Barred rocks have yellow legs. As for the barring, Im not sure how to tell on that. I go by the legs. The marans, the roos are lighter in color then the hens...........good luck............

 

[rooster-red]

The barring on BR's is more even, with the white and black alternating evenly.

 

[speckledhen]

Here's a cockerel with the dot on the head, more like a splotchy spot on the boys, more an actual defined spot on the girls. Doesn't always work, but usually does.

Here is a BR pullet chick, but most have spots a bit larger than she did: