Cuckoo Marans- color sexing chicks?

[trailhound]

On an impulse buy, my neighbor and I purchased a batch of 9 cuckoo Maran chicks today- they are about a week old. I was just trying to do a little research about this breed and read that the males are lighter than the females, and that one might even be able to color sex them as chicks. I kept two and she kept seven. They are mostly black with white patches on their heads, bellies and a little white at the tips of their wings. First of all, is this what cuckoo Maran chicks should look like (I just took the person's word for it), and second- there were a few that did look a little grayer than black, and one didn't have the white patch- perhaps those were the boys? Has anyone had and experience with color sexing this breed?

Thanks!
Andrea

 

[Crunchie]

They are typically very easy to sex at that age. Yes, the lighter gray ones were probably the roosters--the hens will be dark (black) with a more distinct yellow patch on the back of the head.

I'll see if I can dig up any decent pics that show the two sexes side-by-side for you...

Here you go. These are of just-hatched chicks.

Boy:

Girl:

 

[trailhound]

Wow! Thanks! Mine have white spots on the back of their heads- does that mean they are a silver cuckoo? After seeing the difference in yours that makes me pretty sure I have girls! Now I want to go back to the neighbors and compare. I am excited to have this breed, I love the egg color and I have wanted a black and white chicken for a long time.

Thanks for your help!
Andrea