marans gender

[millipede]

We have some birds that aren't really that old yet but, they're already doing the mating behavior and, we definitely have too many boys. In the group are three marans... One of them is lighter than the other two. It also has back feathers missing from some of the birds... oh, the marans at least were born on the 5th and 6th of may. So 2 1/2 months old. The two bigger ones, we've kind of always thought they were boys. Even at a few weeks old in the brooder, these two would kick, kick, jump, kick at each other. Then, they'd freeze as if they were having a staring contest. It was pretty interesting to watch. Now that they're older, they still do this. My oldest child thinks these two are males for another reason. These two are getting some purplish shiny feathers on the back.
i just want to be sure. We NEED to get some boys out. We'll probably sell them. We actually don't need any marans right now but having an extra hen around is never a bad thing.
So we want to be certain the two we think are boys are indeed boys.
Here's a couple pictures. In one picture, all three are there. The lighter one on the right(I think) is the one we think is a girl. These are not good pictures as far as lighting goes and such... don't know if they'll be enough to work with but I'm hoping the details on behavior are enough.
The other pic just has two, including the one we think is a girl.
Anyway... Let me know what you think. I want to sell some of the extra boys as soon as possible.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

We have some birds that aren't really that old yet but, they're already doing the mating behavior and, we definitely have too many boys. In the group are three marans... One of them is lighter than the other two. It also has back feathers missing from some of the birds... oh, the marans at least were born on the 5th and 6th of may. So 2 1/2 months old. The two bigger ones, we've kind of always thought they were boys. Even at a few weeks old in the brooder, these two would kick, kick, jump, kick at each other. Then, they'd freeze as if they were having a staring contest. It was pretty interesting to watch. Now that they're older, they still do this. My oldest child thinks these two are males for another reason. These two are getting some purplish shiny feathers on the back.
i just want to be sure. We NEED to get some boys out. We'll probably sell them. We actually don't need any marans right now but having an extra hen around is never a bad thing.
So we want to be certain the two we think are boys are indeed boys.
Here's a couple pictures. In one picture, all three are there. The lighter one on the right(I think) is the one we think is a girl. These are not good pictures as far as lighting goes and such... don't know if they'll be enough to work with but I'm hoping the details on behavior are enough.
The other pic just has two, including the one we think is a girl.
Anyway... Let me know what you think. I want to sell some of the extra boys as soon as possible.

There is only one that could possibly be female. To the very right in the first pic.

 

[millipede]

There is only one that could possibly be female. To the very right in the first pic.

That's the one we think is a girl. But, I think that's the same bird on the right in pic 2. You can see there are neck and back feathers missing. That bird is very submissive while the other two are very aggressive.
The two on the left in the first pic, what gives away that they're males? We already think that based on behavior... and, the purplish feathers coming in on the back, is that even a clue?

 

[Hidrainja4]

The most obvious, especially with Marans the cockerels develop comb and waddle much faster than the pullets. The comb and waddle are significantly bigger and colored red/pink the pullet is smaller comb and yellow or pale colored. Purple feathers no, behavior most likely cockerels.
As they develop the cockerels will develop hackle feathers and different looking tale feather. You are correct, two cockerels and a pullet.