Sexing Black Copper Marans chicks

[wrathsfarm]

Hello.

Thank you for answering!

I'm reassured at least one of them should be a boy...!
(I am not worried the two of them are, since I know I could easily re-home a Marans rooster.)

Closer pics of they're face would help (me) at least as I play from my phone. I'd put money on the second being a cockerel also, but I've been wrong before. Within the next week or so you should have confirmation either way.

I actually thought the copper feathers started emerging earlier...?
(But these babies are my first Marans chicks ever, so I only know what I read or what I'm told...)

My boys usually do by 3-4 weeks, but I can't say that happens for all BCMs worldwide. This guy hatched Easter Sunday March 31st, pic was taken May 1st...

Okay...
I will post pictures as they grow, so we will know for sure!



Not unfortunately : I would be happy for at least one of them to be a boy...
And luckily, if the two chicks are, it would be easy to re-home one of them...!

If you can...let them both grow out as long as possible to select the best one as your keeper. I've got 10 that hatched out under 2 broodys on May 29th so pretty close in age to yours.
The pic I posted in my previous post with the head spot is one of them. I have 6 or 7 boys in that group, (1 is still got me guessing)

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

After carefully watching my two Black Copper Marans chicks, I could notice one of them - and I even think both of them - has copper coloured feathers on his back (or wings - not easy to see when they move so much).

(I will post pictures when I can take sufficiently good ones.)

Closer pics of they're face would help (me) at least as I play from my phone.

I will try, but... not easy to take pictures when their mama is crazy (she is an Appenzeller Spitzhauben) and doesn't want me to get close...

I'd put money on the second being a cockerel also, but I've been wrong before.

I am pretty sure you actually are right!

My boys usually do by 3-4 weeks, but I can't say that happens for all BCMs worldwide.

Yeah... I know they can have some differences with the breeds depending on the country...
(Mines are purebred French Marans, born and living in France... if it can help - I don't know...!)

This guy hatched Easter Sunday March 31st, pic was taken May 1st...

Your boy looks like he will grow up to be a wonderful rooster! Ah, ah!

He already had much more copper feathers than mines...
I will have to look more carefully, to see if I can find some copper feathers on my babies' chest. (I only noticed the ones on the back!)

If you can...let them both grow out as long as possible to select the best one as your keeper.

I will!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Hi.

After carefully watching my two Black Copper Marans chicks, I could notice one of them - and I even think both of them - has copper coloured feathers on his back (or wings - not easy to see when they move so much).

Don't read too much into that.

Remember, all of these feathers will molt out and that's not an accurate gender identifier. I have some pullets that show back and wing copper (mossy) and while it's undesirable it should molt out. They grow and change a lot and the target range to really know their true color is by their 18 month adult molt.

(I will post pictures when I can take sufficiently good ones.)



I will try, but... not easy to take pictures when their mama is crazy (she is an Appenzeller Spitzhauben) and doesn't want me to get close...

I know all too well having one of them...I fear her more than my roosters when she has babies in tow...

I am pretty sure you actually are right!



Yeah... I know they can have some differences with the breeds depending on the country...
(Mines are purebred French Marans, born and living in France... if it can help - I don't know...!)

Ohhhh,... this is neat news. I didn't realize you are in France. I'm absolutely obsessed with my Marans (I have 32 total, 29 Black Coppers, 1 Black Silver and 1 that's either a White or Black/Blue Silver Splash) so to actually meet someone from France with Marans is super cool..

Your boy looks like he will grow up to be a wonderful rooster! Ah, ah!

Thanks...this is him at 12 weeks.
Over colored in his chest just like his Dad, but I'm letting him grow out a bit more before I can make a decision to keep him or not.

He already had much more copper feathers than mines...
I will have to look more carefully, to see if I can find some copper feathers on my babies' chest. (I only noticed the ones on the back!)



I will!

My main breeder roo is over colored in his chest (among some other faults) and I'm doing test mates with different hens to see what he throws for progeny. He's just a hatchery bird but I'm working with what I have for now...

This is Kong...

Here's a couple links to threads if your interested.
This one is the International Marans SOP thread I frequent for all my questions I have and a wealth of knowledge is here about everything Marans.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-thread-breeding-to-the-sop.1122465/page-2420

And this is my Marans story thread if you feel like taking a look.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wraths-marans.1625296/page-19

 

[Papaye]

Hello.

I just took new pictures...!!

So, my now 32-days-old - let's say 1-month-old - Black Copper Marans chicks :

With Number 1 being on our left here, and Number 2 on our right...

...Number 2 now darkening on the face :

...And Number 1 becoming cuter by the days :

Both of them have a pretty big and PINK comb, and their wattles look much too apparent for them to be girls... right?

(Also, they have copper feathers that started emerging.)

Thus, I think we can now confirm they both are cockerels...
(I really hope so : I would be luckier to have not one, but TWO boys - so I can choose to keep my favorite one for my flock...)

And because they grow so fast... just to compare size with an Appenzeller Spitzhauben hen :

32-days-old, and already so big...!!

...I really love these chicks : I find them to be really pretty compared with chicks from other breeds... and they are mines, so of course I would love them - no other reason actually needed...!!

(...In my opinion, the feathered feet help greatly to make them look cute.)

Remember, all of these feathers will molt out and that's not an accurate gender identifier. I have some pullets that show back and wing copper (mossy) and while it's undesirable it should molt out. They grow and change a lot and the target range to really know their true color is by their 18 month adult molt.

Thank you for informing me!!

Still, I am going to monitor their growth closely - then the growth of my next Marans chicks -, just to see by myself how I can eventually, definitively sex them the earliest possible...

These chicks are not my first Marans, but they are my first Marans chicks...
...In fact, they are my first chicks ever : I'm more used to ducklings...

Thus, I of course need to learn first hand.

Ohhhh,... this is neat news. I didn't realize you are in France. I'm absolutely obsessed with my Marans (I have 32 total, 29 Black Coppers, 1 Black Silver and 1 that's either a White or Black/Blue Silver Splash) so to actually meet someone from France with Marans is super cool..

Marans chickens are really popular in France, and not only because they are a local breed and lay Red/Chocolate coloured eggs : they are very good layers, make good broody hens, are particularly endearing, and are really beautiful to look at...

(For the record : in France, we call the Marans hen "La Poule aux oeufs d'or", because they lay so rich coloured eggs.
There even is an event - a championship - where the colour of the Marans hens' eggs are evalued... among others!
...Darker eggs being better of course...!!)

Here are my two new Black Copper Marans hens :

They still have not lay any egg, but they will soon. And their eggs will probably be very dark...

I could not take any good picture - especially since the Sun has almost not been seen since... a very, very long time now -, but their feathers are SHINY...!!

...I'm currently searching for Wheaten Marans, but they are so loved they are sold before I can buy them...
(Wheaten Marans roosters are more beautiful yet than Black Copper ones...!!!)

I would also like to find Columbian Marans (Light Sussex coloured) : I personally think Columbian Marans roosters are the most beautiful ones... of ALL the roosters - whatever breed they are.
(Columbian Marans roosters just look like KINGS... you know?)

Thanks...this is him at 12 weeks.
Over colored in his chest just like his Dad, but I'm letting him grow out a bit more before I can make a decision to keep him or not.

He is a beautiful boy...!!

Yes, he has much too copper coloured feathers on his chest (he looks kind of like a Gold Laced rooster)... but at 12-weeks-old, he still can get rid of them eventually...?

My main breeder roo is over colored in his chest (among some other faults) and I'm doing test mates with different hens to see what he throws for progeny. He's just a hatchery bird but I'm working with what I have for now...

This is Kong...

I am not so sure, but Kong (King Kong...?) looks like he has a big comb...?
...Very manly... ah, ah!

Are you not going to shorten his spurs...?
I ask, because I recently find one of my hens with a big hole on her left side - hurt she has been by my Brahma rooster's spurs, even though his spurs are TINY compared with your Kong's ones...

Here's a couple links to threads if your interested.
This one is the International Marans SOP thread I frequent for all my questions I have and a wealth of knowledge is here about everything Marans.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-thread-breeding-to-the-sop.1122465/page-2420

And this is my Marans story thread if you feel like taking a look.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wraths-marans.1625296/page-19

Yes. I am VERY interested...!
Thank you very much!!

I will read them when I have more time!!
(I actually already started to read the thread you opened, but I stopped because I was too tired - and after that, I have just so much to do...!!)

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I have copper marans, I would say number 1 is a roo based on how early those wattles are showing! My 15 week old bcm pullet has smaller wattles still! Lol number 2 is too early to tell.

As far as the copper colouring, I had one bcm roo and his copper colouring didn’t show up as obviously rooster-like until maybe 8/9 weeks. I have three girls, two around 18/19 weeks and one has copper on her neck, the other never did the copper colour. The 15 week old is also still all black but maybe her copper flecks haven’t come in yet. My bcm roo had copper earlier and his was coming in on his wings and back as well. I had to rehome him unfortunately as we aren’t able to keep roosters here. Maybe our next home!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Hello.

I just took new pictures...!!

So, my now 32-days-old - let's say 1-month-old - Black Copper Marans chicks :

View attachment 3879627

With Number 1 being on our left here, and Number 2 on our right...

This picture is showing Number 2 has a wide stance, chunky and low to the ground. All good things.
You should leg band at least one to tell them apart as they grow.
Easier to spot which one is which.

...Number 2 now darkening on the face :

View attachment 3879628

...And Number 1 becoming cuter by the days :

View attachment 3879629

Both of them have a pretty big and PINK comb, and their wattles look much too apparent for them to be girls... right?

(Also, they have copper feathers that started emerging.)

Thus, I think we can now confirm they both are cockerels...
(I really hope so : I would be luckier to have not one, but TWO boys - so I can choose to keep my favorite one for my flock...)

Or keep both....

View attachment 3879632

And because they grow so fast... just to compare size with an Appenzeller Spitzhauben hen :

View attachment 3879633

32-days-old, and already so big...!!

...I really love these chicks : I find them to be really pretty compared with chicks from other breeds... and they are mines, so of course I would love them - no other reason actually needed...!!

(...In my opinion, the feathered feet help greatly to make them look cute.)

View attachment 3879634



Thank you for informing me!!

Still, I am going to monitor their growth closely - then the growth of my next Marans chicks -, just to see by myself how I can eventually, definitively sex them the earliest possible...

These chicks are not my first Marans, but they are my first Marans chicks...
...In fact, they are my first chicks ever : I'm more used to ducklings...

Thus, I of course need to learn first hand.



Marans chickens are really popular in France, and not only because they are a local breed and lay Red/Chocolate coloured eggs : they are very good layers, make good broody hens, are particularly endearing, and are really beautiful to look at...

(For the record : in France, we call the Marans hen "La Poule aux oeufs d'or", because they lay so rich coloured eggs.
There even is an event - a championship - where the colour of the Marans hens' eggs are evalued... among others!
...Darker eggs being better of course...!!)

Here are my two new Black Copper Marans hens :

View attachment 3879638

They still have not lay any egg, but they will soon. And their eggs will probably be very dark...

I could not take any good picture - especially since the Sun has almost not been seen since... a very, very long time now -, but their feathers are SHINY...!!

They are beautiful... Congrats and hopefully you get lovely eggs from them.

...I'm currently searching for Wheaten Marans, but they are so loved they are sold before I can buy them...
(Wheaten Marans roosters are more beautiful yet than Black Copper ones...!!!)

I would also like to find Columbian Marans (Light Sussex coloured) : I personally think Columbian Marans roosters are the most beautiful ones... of ALL the roosters - whatever breed they are.
(Columbian Marans roosters just look like KINGS... you know?)

I'm currently obsessed with the BBS Silvers. I only hatched the 2 recently, but I'll have more soon.

He is a beautiful boy...!!

Yes, he has much too copper coloured feathers on his chest (he looks kind of like a Gold Laced rooster)... but at 12-weeks-old, he still can get rid of them eventually...?

Yes he does but they change a lot as they grow so it's possible. I actually have 5 cockerels from that hen pairing (Joannie, my darkest layer) and 4 others from another hen (Betty). Those are the ones I'm mainly watching since Betty has no copper. Her test mate should correct the over coloring in her male progeny. The pullets are mossy so this confirms she's not a good pullet line hen so we wait to see how the boys grow out. One of which has the brown head spot (sign of purity) so he's leg banded and being watched closely.

I am not so sure, but Kong (King Kong...?) looks like he has a big comb...?
...Very manly... ah, ah!

King... He's in my mixed for Marans hybrids and Olive Eggers. (Too much white and squirrel tail.

Yes, Kong has a big comb. An easy fix mating him to hens with smaller combs. I'm working on fixing his over coloring and Type as he's not wide all the way back. We can't fix everything at once, type and egg color are most important.

Are you not going to shorten his spurs...?
I ask, because I recently find one of my hens with a big hole on her left side - hurt she has been by my Brahma rooster's spurs, even though his spurs are TINY compared with your Kong's ones...

Yes both roosters are due. I've been pre occupied with expanding the Marans coop and dealing with hatches, so I've put it off, but it's not causing too much damage yet.

Yes. I am VERY interested...!
Thank you very much!!

I will read them when I have more time!!
(I actually already started to read the thread you opened, but I stopped because I was too tired - and after that, I have just so much to do...!!)

Awesome, thanks for checking it out. There's so much knowledge in the SOP Marans thread with great members always willing to help answer all my questions. I really suggest starting from page 1 when you have time.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I could not take any good picture of my Marans chicks, but I at least have bad ones...!

They are now 2-months-old... :

They still are cockerels.... right?
(They look like they are.)

None of my pictures show it, but their feathers - especially the ones on their wings - shine blue, but more so purple...

They are growing fine, and - at 2-months-old today - are already as big as their Appenzeller Spitzhauben mama.

...I will have to (leg) band them soon.
And given they are Marans cockerels, I'm going to use 24 mm closed rings.
(In fact, I have forgotten to buy the 22 mm rings recommended for Marans roosters; so, I am just going to try the 24 mm ones I have bought...)

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yes they are both cockerels 100%.
Very good idea leg banding them as it's much easier to identify them apart from each other.

From what I can see so far, 1st pic, first boy has a little more copper coming in sooner so he's maturing slightly faster, but they both look chunky and low riders with great looking copper.

Good things my friend, congrats.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Yes they are both cockerels 100%.

I'm lucky!!

When I want girls, I usually get boys...
But for once I really want a boy, I get not one, but two cockerels!

Very good idea leg banding them as it's much easier to identify them apart from each other.

I don't find my 24 mm leg bands anymore...!!
Neither does my supplier sell them for the time being...

...I actually already don't know which was the dark-faced chick or the light-faced one anymore...

From what I can see so far, 1st pic, first boy has a little more copper coming in sooner so he's maturing slightly faster, but they both look chunky and low riders with great looking copper.

Yes.
One is maturing a bit faster than the other.

In order to make them the healthiest possible, I have been mixing food grade Diatomaceous Earth in their food since their first days of life.
It contributes greatly to their growth, as I already could notice with the ducklings I raise.
(...Makes them big and strong... I also feel they eat more than the ones I had not been feeding DE?)

Good things my friend, congrats.

Thank you!!

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Here are the two Marans boys, at almost 3-months-old today :

The one on the perch is Ulysse.
The one on the ground is Hector.

Which one do I keep?

...Ulysse - on our left - is the most developped; and Hector - on our right - is bulier and actually looks sturdier :

...Ulysse already has a pretty long tail compared with Hector :

He also has not so much copper coloured feathers :

...Whereas Hector has a lot of red, especially on his chest :

Nevertheless, I just feel he is the boy I should keep home - since he looks stronger... and I just really, really like his eyes :

Both of them seem to be tolerated by Rocky - my Brahma rooster; so I can chose the one I want to keep home...

...But which one should I choose eventually?