Cuckoo Marans?

[Seed223]

We bought this guy from a feed store back in April. He was sold to us as a cuckoo Marans but I’ve been reading that feed stores sometimes sell barred rocks and say they are Marans? His legs are more of a white/grayish color and not yellow. I’ve been looking at photos online but for the life of me I can’t tell the difference between the two . Any chicken professionals out there who could help me?!

 

[britesidefarm]

Looks like a Cuckoo Maran, but I can see how you can get the two mixed up

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I agree, comb type and leg color point to cuckoo Marans. He is a handsome boy

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

He's a Cuckoo Marans!

 

[MarkJr]

From what I’ve been told that cockerel with yellow legs would be a bar rock. White/grey say Coocoo Marans.

There’s Dominique in there too. Picture a CM with a rose comb.

 

[RainbowHen]

While most Marans in the US have feathered legs I wouldn't rule it out. Also, with hatchery stock almost anything goes. Best bet would be to breed him and see what color eggs you get from the resulting females.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

From what I’ve been told that cockerel with yellow legs would be a bar rock. White/grey say Coocoo Marans.

There’s Dominique in there too. Picture a CM with a rose comb.

Dominiques have yellow legs however

 

[MarkJr]

Dominiques have yellow legs however

Dang it!!!! Now I have to re shuffle black and white spotted chicken breeds around again.

Does it get easier???

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Dang it!!!! Now I have to re shuffle black and white spotted chicken breeds around again.

Does it get easier???

If you know the breed's origin, it helps with general traits, at least in my opinion. Most American breeds have yellow skin versus Continental/English with the white skin. I always find it interesting what breeds in the ancestry of others give rise to the traits seen in the new breed. In heritage RIRs and good quality Marans, they have much harder feathering than most other breeds. With knowing the history, it makes sense as Marans were derived from game birds and RIR from game also, specifically Malays. I'm rambling a bit, but breed history does help contextualize random breed facts and gives good connections to other breeds you may know the traits of, so you can infer the rest