I purchased two "Dominant Copper" chicks from a farm store back in April. Store said they got them from Jenks Hatchery. They are supposed to be a cross between a Black Copper Marans rooster and a Barred Rock hen. This cross should have resulted in sex linked chicks with the males having white dots on their head. Males should also be barred while the females would be black. I've confirmed that here in the genetics and breeding forums. (Thanks, everyone!)
This is what they looked like when I brought them home:
The second chick was almost identical except it also has feathered legs. Neither had white dots on their heads. I believe they were about 3-5 days old when I got them, but that is an uneducated guess.
Here they are at about 3 weeks of age:
The first chick, on the left, is the same chick as above, the second one, on the right, has the feathered legs, even though you can't see them here. Note the lack of a white dot on their heads. Also note that the second chick's comb is growing in much faster than the first's. This is where I started to question what I had been told.
Fast forward to today. Here is chick number one at about 5 1/2 weeks old now. Tiny comb, no dot, no bars. All as it should be, except that she has clean legs. Not sure if that is typical of Marans crosses or not, but I suspect it happens. In any case, I'm pretty sure she is a pullet:
And now chick number two, also 5 1/2 weeks old. Still no bars, definitely feathered feet ... but look at that comb and those wattles. And those feet seem huge. Even with my lack of experience, this looks like a young cockerel to me. Even the way he stands and walks seems cockish the past couple of days:
Here are a couple of pictures of them together, for comparison. Pretty sure you can tell which is which:
(Note: Middle bird below is one of my Colorpack Layer Easter Eggers. She is about a week older than the other two. Pretty sure she is a pullet.)
So, first of all, do you agree that I have one pullet and one cockerel or is it still too early to tell? If so, then the boy at the very least is NOT the cross I thought I had purchased. In that case, any guesses as to what they might actually be? I'm hoping they at least have Black Copper Marans in them, but I am not at all sure of anything at this point. They are wonderful little birds and I can't say I mind that much that one is male (at least not yet, lol), but the mystery of the thing is driving me bonkers.
Any and all input is appreciated. I suspect I may have to wait for them to grow up more before I get my answers, if I ever do. But I thought it might be fun to try guessing now. I am pretty sure I'll learn something in the process.
This is what they looked like when I brought them home:
The second chick was almost identical except it also has feathered legs. Neither had white dots on their heads. I believe they were about 3-5 days old when I got them, but that is an uneducated guess.
Here they are at about 3 weeks of age:
The first chick, on the left, is the same chick as above, the second one, on the right, has the feathered legs, even though you can't see them here. Note the lack of a white dot on their heads. Also note that the second chick's comb is growing in much faster than the first's. This is where I started to question what I had been told.
Fast forward to today. Here is chick number one at about 5 1/2 weeks old now. Tiny comb, no dot, no bars. All as it should be, except that she has clean legs. Not sure if that is typical of Marans crosses or not, but I suspect it happens. In any case, I'm pretty sure she is a pullet:
And now chick number two, also 5 1/2 weeks old. Still no bars, definitely feathered feet ... but look at that comb and those wattles. And those feet seem huge. Even with my lack of experience, this looks like a young cockerel to me. Even the way he stands and walks seems cockish the past couple of days:
Here are a couple of pictures of them together, for comparison. Pretty sure you can tell which is which:
(Note: Middle bird below is one of my Colorpack Layer Easter Eggers. She is about a week older than the other two. Pretty sure she is a pullet.)
So, first of all, do you agree that I have one pullet and one cockerel or is it still too early to tell? If so, then the boy at the very least is NOT the cross I thought I had purchased. In that case, any guesses as to what they might actually be? I'm hoping they at least have Black Copper Marans in them, but I am not at all sure of anything at this point. They are wonderful little birds and I can't say I mind that much that one is male (at least not yet, lol), but the mystery of the thing is driving me bonkers.
Any and all input is appreciated. I suspect I may have to wait for them to grow up more before I get my answers, if I ever do. But I thought it might be fun to try guessing now. I am pretty sure I'll learn something in the process.
