PLEASE HELP... Cuckoo Marans vs. Barred Rock?????

[lizzy06019]

I have 5 barred rock chicks and 5 cuckoo marans chicks. They're about 4 weeks old and I can't tell them apart. I'm looking at photos of each breed as adults and I STILL can't tell them apart. Can someone please help me look for something that will help tell them apart? I want to sell/give away a couple BRs and don't know which is which at this point. All have some black on their legs, some have black on their beaks... I have noticed some are more feathered at this point. Does one of these breeds feather out slower than the other? Any help is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

 

[Illia]

Can you tell if any have yellow feet apart from pink feet/legs? That is often the way to recognize them later on. Not sure about now, but from others I hear it is easy.

 

[Byrdj]

Quote:
Yes, and barred rocks are faster feathering so shold feather out faster than the cuckoos, but I would rely more on the yellow feet vs. pick feet.

 

[lizzy06019]

I just sat in front of the brooder for a while and, for the life of me, can't see a difference between their feet

I can't believe they look so similar that I can't tell them apart.

 

[Tala]

HAHAHAHAHA

Right now I have brooding together: 3 Cuckoo Marans, 3 Dominiques, and 2 Barred Rocks (with 3 EE's but they are easy, lol)

I put on zip ties while I could still tell them apart! The Dominiques are easy because of their combs, but just a glance and all you see are a bunch of stripedy "jailbirds"

(Jailbird is what I named the Cuckoo Marans cockerel btw)

 

[Katy]

Look at the bottom of their feet....you should be able to tell the difference....white/pink=Marans yellow=BR

 

[MaransGuy]

If the chicks came from a hatchery it likely will be more difficult to tell. The problem is that hatcheries routinely cross barred rocks with cuckoo Marans in order to get the Marans to lay more. The result is that you get poor egg color out of the Marans and mutts that are sold as pure-bred. Even in the chick stage you should see a difference in leg color between pure bred Marans and pure bred barred rocks. The Marans have pink/white legs and the barred rocks will have yellow brushed with black.

 

[lizzy06019]

It looks like all the chicks have the yellow brushed with black. They are from McMurray so you're explanation about hatcheries would make complete sense. I guess I'll just have to see