Black Copper Marans - Time progression of sexing - UPDATED with WEEKs #1-3 PICTURES

[dannyelle123]

Guesses??? Is Ygritte really Ygorre???

 

[winterhorses]

Guesses??? Is Ygritte really Ygorre???

It really looks like a boy, especially with the amount of wattle on the beak. You'll have a much better idea in 2 weeks. If it stays pretty much the same, you've got a pullet. If it grows and pinkens, cockerel.

This is one mine at 4 weeks that I worried was a boy. Two and a half weeks later, not much had changed, confirming her as a pullet.

 

[dannyelle123]

Thanks! All of the pics I've seen of girls at 4 weeks seem to have much smaller combs... Ygritte's comb seems much pinker than yesterday so I think I'm going with boy!

It really looks like a boy, especially with the amount of wattle on the beak. You'll have a much better idea in 2 weeks. If it stays pretty much the same, you've got a pullet. If it grows and pinkens, cockerel.

This is one mine at 4 weeks that I worried was a boy. Two and a half weeks later, not much had changed, confirming her as a pullet.

 

[Ketaped]

This is my black copper Maran.... It's supposed to be a hen, but at just shy of 8 weeks, I've got a stinking suspicion I've got another roo on my hands. The comb and wattles are just too developed for me to be comfortable with. Any experts want to weigh in? Do I have any hope of a hen?

 

[JacquelineJ]

I'll continue to post updates for others who have BCMs and want to see.

So far - color, pattern at birth didn't matter. Comb size at birth didn't matter, but did start to matter after about week 2. Comb color mattered between weeks 2-3. Leg size didnt matter when they were a week old, but at three weeks, Meaty's legs are appreciably bigger, and he is all over bigger, taller, the other two males don't have big legs, yet and size wise are the same size as the girls. Tail feathers - Meaty who is the largest cockerel, has just as many feathers as the two females and started to sprout them after just a couple of days of hatching. The other two males are slow feathering. Meaty also tries to crow and mount his momma. Meaty is also a bit agressive and protective of the little girls. The other two males are shy. Finally, Bebe ( one we hope is one of the two girls) is very animated and social, not shy and not scared of anything and very sweet.

Note: these are just my observations and I am guessing your chicks could be different, but I hope this will help others with their chicks, or at least give them hope.

I can not tell you how many times i have referred back to this thread and post. I'm pretty sure i have a "meaty" we are in week 2 now so if i do i will know soon enough! So far I'm pretty sure i've 2 boys (they're facing off daily now and quite chunky)

 

[JacquelineJ]

This is my black copper Maran.... It's supposed to be a hen, but at just shy of 8 weeks, I've got a stinking suspicion I've got another roo on my hands. The comb and wattles are just too developed for me to be comfortable with. Any experts want to weigh in? Do I have any hope of a hen? View attachment 554044 View attachment 554045

I'm only in week 2 so i don't know much but I think you are right. Somebody on this thread did say that even experienced breeders get BCM sexing wrong early on at times. Did you buy a pullet? I mean if you did perhaps the breeder will exchange?

 

[Ketaped]

I'm only in week 2 so i don't know much but I think you are right. Somebody on this thread did say that even experienced breeders get BCM sexing wrong early on at times. Did you buy a pullet? I mean if you did perhaps the breeder will exchange?

Unfortunately it was a Meyers hatchery purchase, so I'll be able to request my $12 back, but I'll still have a roo to deal with and no lovely dark eggs. I'm going to live in denial for another week or two, but given the 5 other chicks of various breeds and the same age still have thin yellow combs, I'm pretty sure it's just denial.

 

[KSmith0201]

I'm on the fence with this Blue Copper Marans. My other two boys had bigger combs by this age. He's about 5 weeks old. Got my fingers crossed for a pullet, but leaning more towards it being a roo. Have any of you ever had a marans that gave you trouble? Maybe pullets that had large combs.

 

[lurae]

I have a 5 wk old blue copper maran that looks all pullet at this time except for some slight feathering on her feet. Is that possible or do I have a roo? I have another blue, same hatch, that is definitely roo. Sorry, no pics, phone pics are just not clear enough. My three black CM are a big brutes and cannot be mistaken for anything but roo.

 

[Relynn]

This is either a BCM or a FCM... On the right... I am waiting for a crow, this one is almost 15 weeks, she/he has had the comb and wattles since 8 weeks, but they have not gotten any larger. I had another one with this one, and he started crowing a week and a half ago, so I had to find him a new home... I am hoping that this one does not crow... but I am still expecting it. It has a tiny amount of copper, but nothing to really write home about. A breeder that I recently went to to get my silkie chicks had only hens left from their BCM flock, and they had huge wattles and combs. So, that has kept my hope alive. What are your thoughts on sex?