Sexing Blue Marans

[VintageLilFarm]

I have some Blue Marans (not Blue Copper, just Blue). They are two weeks old. My Black Copper boys are starting to show some copper in their wings. Since my Blues don't do that, I've been looking at other possibilities for sexing them.

I noticed there is a marked difference in leg color for most of them. Would the more yellow be boys and the darker, more blue, be girls? Or what are your thoughts? Pic shows one leg of each color.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

No, leg color doesn't really matter. Those are strange colors for Marans, are you sure that's what they are?

 

[VintageLilFarm]

Yep! Absolutely certain they are Blue Marans, very uncommon! Interesting it makes no difference on leg color... on to the next idea.

 

[Alexandra33]

Leg color doesn't really have anything to do with gender. You'll have to wait until they're old enough to show comb development, in about 4-5 weeks.

~Alex

 

[VintageLilFarm]

Leg color doesn't really have anything to do with gender. You'll have to wait until they're old enough to show comb development, in about 4-5 weeks.

~Alex

Thanks!

 

[drumstick diva]

New photos of the whole bird(s) at 8 weeks of age would be even better.

 

[VintageLilFarm]

By 8 weeks, I'll have had to narrow them way down. And may narrow it down to roos! But that's all part of owning chickens!

 

[heidibee]

One of my Marans cockerels started showing a much larger comb at just two weeks!

 

[VintageLilFarm]

One of my Marans cockerels started showing a much larger comb at just two weeks!

I've seen more raised combs on some of mine already also. It seems the onlyway to know 100% is to grow them out. However, I don't have space to keep 30 birds once they outgrow the brooder. So I'm trying to make my best guesses for which to keep!

 

[JedJackson]

I've seen more raised combs on some of mine already also. It seems the onlyway to know 100% is to grow them out. However, I don't have space to keep 30 birds once they outgrow the brooder. So I'm trying to make my best guesses for which to keep!

In that case, and if you want females, pick the birds with the smallest and palest combs. To me that's the best bet if you can't keep them all around until they're grown enough to be easily sexable.