boy vs. girl Cuckoo Marans

[Chickhick]

I've read that Cuckoo Marans are sexable at hatch... how can you tell the boys from the girls?

Thanks!

 

[Medicine Man]

girls will generally be a darker shade of black overall and have a black stripe running down the front of the shanks.

 

[Chickhick]

Thanks! I can't tell a difference in the shade of black yet, as they aren'y fully dry and fluffy yet, but 1 of the 4 does have a black stripe up the front of her shanks, so I'm guessing 3 boys and a girl so far.

 

[FarmGirl01]

I got this information on another thread. I copied it down. Here it is.

Males-- larger, splotchy headspot; lighter, silvery-grayish color: little to no black down leg front.

Females-- More defined and smaller headspot; down is very black, dark wash down the front of legs.

This info helped me greatly. It was 100% correct for me. Good luck and conjrats on the chicks.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

This is a photo of my Cuckoo Marans chick when he was about two weeks old. He was sexed to be a she but as all my chicks grew up, it was clear, she was really a he.

And here's a photo of him when he's about 5 weeks old. His legs and feet were noticably larger than the other girls.

Sadly, I had to re-home him. Which was a very sad day for me. I have a small back yard and only have space for 4 chickens so to lose one was tough. And I was so looking forward to those chocolate eggs.

Good Luck with your Cuckoo's. They are BEAUTIFUL birds.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

And I have a ton of photos of him when he was a chick. If you want to see more, ping me and I'll forward those.

 

[Chickhick]

Thanks for the pic of your boy... I've changed what I think... now I think 2 are boys and 2 are girls. One of the ones I was counting as a boy had a little dark on her shanks so I was on the fence with her. But looking at the spots on their heads I've decided she must be a girl, too. If only the Light Sussex could be sexed as easily!!

 

[RAREROO]

These are pure Barred Rock chicks but it works the same way for Cuckoo Marans and most other pure barred breeds when a Homozygous barred roo is used. The males are lighter and look more "frosted"

Pullets

Cockerels

 

[FarmGirl01]

Really good photos.

 

[Medicine Man]

Yes, that is a really excellent pair of photos to show the differences, Clint.