Cuckoo Maran - Barred Rock - Pullets?

[Kayla's Lunch]

I have twelve 4 week old chicks that are supposed to be all female. I got 2 of 6 different breeds. I was supposed to get 2 Barred Rocks and 2 Cuckoo Marans. Not sure that it really happened that way. At first, it seemed easy to pick out the Cuckoo Marans and the Barred Rocks. Now, one of those 4 looks different and the other 3 look very similar. One developed a comb before the others and her feather pattern is different and she is slower to get her feathers, she's Sea Salt. In the second photo, is one of them a Maran? They are Ella and Sugar with the little Wyandottes (Mara and Goldy) in the front. The 3rd photo should be a Barred Rock, she's Bella. Thanks for any help.

 

[sylviethecochin]

First chick is a cockerel, by feathering feet, and comb.

You have two birds that look cuckoo to me: the middle of the second picture, and the one in the third picture. However, most Marans in the US have feathered feet, and those two do not.

So they may be English-standard (no feathered feet) Cuckoo Marans--which are pretty rare, in the US--or they may just be hatchery-quality Barred Rocks.

That's just a guess, though.

*Some background: Barred vs Cuckoo.

Cuckoo is fast-feathering and a messier pattern. Barred is slower-feathering, so the stripes come in more neatly.

 

[Alexandra33]

I agree that the first could potentially be a young cockerel. However, their leg color doesn't line up with that of Marans. Pink = Marans, yellow = Rock.

~Alex

 

[Frazzemrat1]

The first one is a cockerel... the other barred birds are pullets. Now, something important to remember is that barred rocks have yellow legs and feet and marans have white legs and feet... I'm seeing yellow so far.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

We were worried about the first being a cockerel. We aren't allowed to have roosters. Now we are in mourning! He is one of my youngest daughter's (age 10) favorites. He comes and sits on her shoulder and lap.

 

[Alexandra33]

We were worried about the first being a cockerel. We aren't allowed to have roosters. Now we are in mourning! He is one of my youngest daughter's (age 10) favorites. He comes and sits on her shoulder and lap.

I'd wait another few weeks just to be 100% sure. One of my Barred Rock hens is VERY light in coloration, if that gives you any hope.

~Alex

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Thanks! She is so sweet. I'm going to call her "she" until she crows! Positive thinking!

 

[PNWskye]

Do you have an update for us?

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Unfortunately, she turned out to be a he and we rehomed him. His crows were very sweet, though.

 

[PNWskye]

Oh, bummer! Got to love this game we play...guess if it’s a roo or not!