Possible Rooster??

[Damp]

I have four about five week old Midnight Majesty Maran chicks, which were all suppose to be hens. But one has yellow feet and beak, where the others have black feet and black beak. Could this one be a rooster? See picture. Thank you

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Midnight Majesty Marans are not pure Marans, but a sexlinked cross between a Marans male and Barred Rock female. The resulting chicks from such a cross are black females and barred males. The picture is not very clear when zooming in, but I do think I'm seeing white barring in that chick's wing feathers, so it is distinctly possible that he's a male.

If you got them from a feed store, though, it could also just be that a Barred Rock pullet got mixed in with the MM Marans and you ended up with a mix-up. This is what I lean towards because of the bright yellow skin and fairly small comb for a 5-week-old male. Keep an eye on that comb over the next few weeks to see if it gets any bigger or starts to color in pink or reddish. That would tell you that he's a cockerel.

 

[Damp]

Midnight Majesty Marans are not pure Marans, but a sexlinked cross between a Marans male and Barred Rock female. The resulting chicks from such a cross are black females and barred males. The picture is not very clear when zooming in, but I do think I'm seeing white barring in that chick's wing feathers, so it is distinctly possible that he's a male.

If you got them from a feed store, though, it could also just be that a Barred Rock pullet got mixed in with the MM Marans and you ended up with a mix-up. This is what I lean towards because of the bright yellow skin and fairly small comb for a 5-week-old male. Keep an eye on that comb over the next few weeks to see if it gets any bigger or starts to color in pink or reddish. That would tell you that he's a cockerel.

Thank you so much for this much needed information. I didn't want a rooster as I don't have the current ability to have any additional chicks. If this is a rooster at what age will he become a (man) so to speak? Thank you

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Thank you so much for this much needed information. I didn't want a rooster as I don't have the current ability to have any additional chicks. If this is a rooster at what age will he become a (man) so to speak? Thank you

A cockerel will become a rooster at one-year-old. A pullet will become a hen at one-year-old.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

It depends on what you mean by that. Yes, most consider the 1-year mark to be when cockerels 'officially' become roosters. However, they will start crowing and trying to breed a long time before that. The exact age varies a lot from cockerel to cockerel, but they can start crowing anywhere from one month of age to three months on average, and sometimes even later. Breeding attempts usually come after crowing, but generally speaking comes before pullets of the same age mature enough to be receptive to breeding. If he is a cockerel, you might find that he harasses the pullets and causes a lot of stress in the flock. If you want to keep him either way, I would recommend preparing an area that you can separate him to so that the pullets can have a break from him when he gets to be too much.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

It depends on what you mean by that. Yes, most consider the 1-year mark to be when cockerels 'officially' become roosters. However, they will start crowing and trying to breed a long time before that. The exact age varies a lot from cockerel to cockerel, but they can start crowing anywhere from one month of age to three months on average, and sometimes even later. Breeding attempts usually come after crowing, but generally speaking comes before pullets of the same age mature enough to be receptive to breeding. If he is a cockerel, you might find that he harasses the pullets and causes a lot of stress in the flock. If you want to keep him either way, I would recommend preparing an area that you can separate him to so that the pullets can have a break from him when he gets to be too much.

I agree, I have had cockerels already getting ready to breed at only six weeks old. My Speckled Sussex cockerel, on the other hand, is over five months old and has not crowed or bred; which is likely to be because he lives with two other cockerels he may be afraid of. The time that cockerels breed or crow also depends on their dominance level.

 

[Damp]

The chicks I have are Midnight Majestic

Thank you so much for this much needed information. I didn't want a rooster as I don't have the current ability to have any additional chicks. If this is a rooster at what age will he become a (man) so to speak? Thank you

Here are a few updated pictures if you can help me with this ID. Thank you so much

 

[Damp]

Thank you so much for this much needed information. I didn't want a rooster as I don't have the current ability to have any additional chicks. If this is a rooster at what age will he become a (man) so to speak? Thank you

Thank you so much for your help, here are a few updated pictures if they tell you anything. Thanks again

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thank you so much for your help, here are a few updated pictures if they tell you anything. Thanks again

Midnight majestic marans are sex-linked, pullets are black and cockerels are barred, so your barred one is a cockerel

 

[Damp]

Thank you so much for all the information.