BCM x cream legbar autosexing ?splash

[Notmyrealname]

I crossed my cream legbar hen with a friends black copper marans cockerel. I was expecting to be able to sex them at hatching. I have some black (assuming female) some black with white dot on head (assuming male) and some very pale grey which I was not expecting. Is this blue? Splash? Will they be male/female/either?

Can’t take pics yet as still in incubator.

Any wisdom greatly received. Thank you!

 

[TillyPeeps]

Those chicks should be sexlink olive eggers: the chicks with white dots on their heads are males. Not sure why you have pale gray ones, but congratulations on the chicks!

 

[Notmyrealname]

Thank you- That was my plan but now I’m confused! Wondering if the BCM was carrying blue genes?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If the BCM were carrying Blue genes he would be blue or splash, not black. My guess is that the hen was carrying some gene that modifies black but maybe only had one copy of that gene so some of her chicks would be black and some would be that grey color.

 

[Notmyrealname]

It’s my cock up (no pun intended!). Apparently the cockerel was a blue copper marans not a black. My CLB hen just went to his house for a special holiday so I didn’t properly see him. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That makes sense. The Blue Copper Marans has one B/B/S gene so some get it and are blue and some don't get it and are black. You probably know all this.

With the hen being barred and the rooster not barred the chicks will be sex linked with the boys having the spot. The question is how well can you see the spot on the blue chicks. When they feather out you should be able to tell the boys by the barring on the wing feathers before any other feathers.

 

[Notmyrealname]

Thank you that’s exactly the info I needed. I will post some pics later. If you get a chance to have a look and cast your vote I would be v grateful. Thanks

 

[Notmyrealname]

I’m thinking 1,2,3 boys, 4,5 probably boys 6, 7 girls

 

[Ridgerunner]

Probably so.