How to tell the difference between Cuckoo & Black Marans chicks?

[Sunny Side Up]

My local feed store got new chicks in today, to begin selling tomorrow. They say they're getting both Cuckoo & Black Marans chicks. I looked at them today & saw what looks like Barred Rock chicks. I don't know what hatchery they order from, but know they're not always reliable, and that the folks at the feed store aren't well informed.

How can I know they're really Marans?

How can I tell the difference between Cuckoo & Black Marans? (I'd like to get the Cuckoo, I like the barred pattern).

Are there any visable differences between the male & female chicks?

I appreciate your imput, I'm hoping to add a few Cuckoo Marans to the laying flock. Thank you!

 

[sewhorsey]

I'll be watching this thread too...

I had an order come in with both barred rock chicks (for a friend) and cuckoo marans (for me). The hatchery didn't mark them, as I didn't think to ask for that service, and the hatchery sent the wrong numbers of multiple chicks in the order. So I had a multitude of black and yellow peeps.

Then a order of turkeys came with 10 black and yellow peeps as packing peanuts...who knows what they could be!

To add to the confusion, the chicks outgrew their brooder tubs and began swapping themselves around, sigh.

Marans do have white legs and the BR's yellow, but be darned if a blend of peachy and dark tones are what I see.

Anyway, I hope you have marans, good luck!!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Anyone else have info I could use? I will be going to the feed store in the morning & would like to make the best-informed choice. Thank you!

 

[onthespot]

black marans will have NO white, cream or yellow smudge on top of their heads. If you stretch out their wings, the flights of the black ones will be black all the way to the end of the feathers, except for the last several flight feathers which will be solid white. They will later come in black. The cuckoos will have white lacing on the edges of all the wing feathers. Sometimes you can't see it at a day old, but after a few days you should be able to. If you want cuckoo pullets, choose ones with less noticeable light smudges on the top of the head, smaller feet and overal darker down. Not a guarantee, but something to help the odds in your favor. The blacks are not easy to sex for several weeks, but if I had a gun to my head and said pick a boy, I would choose one with a yellow comb over one with a black tinged one. Hope this helps.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Oh thank you so much, that's really helpful advice. I hope to find a couple Cuckoo pullets, think I can now with your tips.