PHOTOS added, Cuckoo Marans leg colors different...

[BikerBabeRules]

....I was shipped cuckoo marans day olds in mid March. Turns out 8 were roos. 5 have pinkish/gray legs and 3 have dark dark yellow legs. Other than that, they look the same. Why would this be, all from the same place. Which would be the real cuckoos or why would the leg color be different?

 

[speckledhen]

Pinkish gray/white legs are Marans. What kind of comb do the ones with the yellow legs have? Could be Barred Rocks or Dominiques, depending. Could also be a cross of two breeds.

 

[LilPeeps]

Looks like they have single combs, so I'd guess barred rocks.

 

[BikerBabeRules]

well,,,,I didn't order any barred rocks but if I have a couple, I guess I that's the way it is....thanks. I'll try to take an up-close of their combs and post.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm looking at that pic now and with the yellow-legged ones, something about the barring on the neck/hackle area seems off for a pure Barred Rock. They almost look like black sexlink roosters. I'd have to see a side full body shot to be sure, though. Can't put into words what I'm talking about, but from raising Barred Rocks for a couple of years now, they just seem off. Could be just the angle of the pic or the lighting or something else, but I'm not 100% sure they're even Barred Rocks at the moment.

 

[BikerBabeRules]

Here you go Speckledhen, is this shot enough to tell what he/they are?
Thanks much,

 

[speckledhen]

Tell me, do you see any off-color feathers in the tail, like greenish feathers? They could be Barred Rocks, but there is an odd look to the hackle barring for being BRs. It's possible that they are Marans crossed with Barred Rocks, which would explain the yellow legs. Could be I'm seeing something that isn't there, but if they develop any sickle feathers that are not barred, like a stray green feather, I'd say they are Black Sexlink roos.

 

[MaransGuy]

Unfortunately, barred rocks are often crossed into cuckoo marans and this is the result. It is most common in hatchery stock but some private breeders can end up with these tainted lines if they are not careful where they get their birds from.

Richard

 

[Mahonri]

All of my Barred Rocks have grey legs with black baring in the front. None have yellow legs.

 

[PotterWatch]

Those are some really yellow legs! My BRs have a yellow tinge to their legs with black wash down the front, but nothing near to being that yellow!

In the most recent pic, it almost looks like the one with its side facing the camera has some brown on its feathers...