Here's a photo I took of our P RIR's feathers- even thopugh they are not the same breed, the shape of the feathers will tell you what you need to know to be able to look at nearly any chicken and tell what it is just by feather shape. L-R: Rooster tail feather, hen tail feather, hen saddle feather, rooster saddle feather. (The rooster saddle feathers also looks like rooster neck hackle feathers.) See how all the rooster feathers are longer, thinner and pointier? Rooster feathers also have a tendency to bend a bit and flop over. We also have a few Marans (from a different line than our own Marans) and all of those have extremely long tail feathers, and stick up straight and high- even the males. (The males have green tail feathers though, and a few feathers flop over.) Marans both males and females ideally should have low set, shortish tails.
See how all the rooster feathers are longer, thinner and pointier? Rooster feathers also have a tendency to bend a bit and flop over. We also have a few Marans (from a different line than our own Marans) and all of those have extremely long tail feathers, and stick up straight and high- even the males. (The males have green tail feathers though, and a few feathers flop over.) Marans both males and females ideally should have low set, shortish tails.
