Sexing Wheaton Marans Chicks?

[Eliza]

Hello,

I know I promised I wouldn't do it, but then along came an opportunity to purchase some newly hatched (1 week) Wheaton Marans chicks. Are they able to be sexed at this time (probably not) but I thought I hope. The guy claims he can't and in the meantime they'll have eaten $10 worth of food. The chicks are $10 a piece. I would like 2.

Eliza

 

[Happy Chooks]

I've read that they can be sexed as soon as their feathers start coming in by the coloring. But I don't know exactly how.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

I'm not familiar with Wheaten chicks, but the boys should start getting dark chest feathers around 3-4 weeks.

Otherwise my girl Marans seem to feather out faster, with more tail and wing feathering earlier than the boys.

There may be another way to tell, but I'd go for the most feathering at this point.

 

[nivtup]

It take 3 weeks to be able to tell by color of feathering

Might be able to tell in 2, 3 for sure

 

[Katy]

You're able to tell as soon as their wing feathers come in....roos almost black...pullets brownish.

 

[NanaJune]

There is a man on the Yahoo group "darkegglayers" who says he can sex Marans by their leg color? Never heard of that! I asked him to share the secret (he says it is 99.99% accurate), but he has not responded yet? If he does, I will let you know what he says! I have some newly hatched Black Coppers that I would like to be able to sex early for selling

 

[Eliza]

That would be great! I sure nough would like some Marans! I'm hoping that he'll still have some in 2 weeks.... but if not, I do'nt need roos no matter how great the birds.

 

[ctjim]

you saw his ad as well. i contacted him when the ad went up and was asking for pullets as i already have a bcm roo and don't need more, he said the same thing more $$ for pullets when they can be sexed. i am still considering contacting him and getting a couple, or is it even worth it as i have a bcm roo and he has wheaten maran? would that be a bad result for breeding?