What are the odds this cockerel is a pure Marans?

[humblehillsfarm]

This has been the best photo I’ve been able to manage. I had a blue copper Marans rooster and I bred him to a black copper Marans hen and an Olive egger that had blue feathering and the legbar “top hat”. I have one cockerel which looks like a blue copper Marans, two which look like black copper Marans, and this handsome guy. I am trying to decide which of the four to keep. The other three I have been unable to photograph but to my eye, if they came from an Olive egg there are no distinguishing features to prove otherwise. In terms of appearance this handsome man is who I’d love to keep, but I suspect he is my F2 OE. What do you think?


I dispatched the original rooster because he was a jerk. I’m looking for a replacement roo for breeding purposes.

And if he’s an OE, for more color variation would you all choose the blue copper Marans cockerel or one of the black ones?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Not good. He has very yellow skin

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Not good. He has very yellow skin

Ugh. I mean my heart of hearts tells me he’s an OE. But I am unfamiliar with breed standards. However I do know his dad didn’t show his copper coloring until he matured more.

I’m hoping to breed for more color variations aside from primarily Black. So that is one of the factors weighing in on my choice of cockerels. Interestingly enough, they ALL have heavier feathering than both the dad and the mom.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Ugh. I mean my heart of hearts tells me he’s an OE. But I am unfamiliar with breed standards. However I do know his dad didn’t show his copper coloring until he matured more.

I’m hoping to breed for more color variations aside from primarily Black. So that is one of the factors weighing in on my choice of cockerels. Interestingly enough, they ALL have heavier feathering than both the dad and the mom.

He’s barred. And I see no hint if copper, which at this age there should be.
He’s not pure.

 

[3KillerBs]

What a beauty!

I can't weigh in on the question of Marans vs OE, but good foot feathers get me every time.

 

[Painted Calls]

Agreed. Pure Marans would have white skin.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

He’s barred. And I see no hint if copper, which at this age there should be.
He’s not pure.

When I took the picture I thought the pattern was reminiscent of barring. Makes me wonder if the heritage of the OE hen....

 

[humblehillsfarm]

What a beauty!

I can't weigh in on the question of Marans vs OE, but good foot feathers get me every time.

Thank you. He is my favorite I’ll be honest he’s tempting me to scrap my whole agenda and just breed him to the Marans anyways. They’d be a super high percentage of Marans...... but much less sellable I know I feel like I’ll never have another one like him.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Agreed. Pure Marans would have white skin.

Neither my blue copper Marans nor the Black copper Marans have white feet or beaks. The skin itself was white and this guy’s is too. Unless I’m misunderstanding?

I attached the best pics I have of the parents.

 

[Painted Calls]

Neither my blue copper Marans nor the Black copper Marans have white feet or beaks. The skin itself was white and this guy’s is too. Unless I’m misunderstanding?

I attached the best pics I have of the parents.

Check the bottoms of their feet. It's not uncommon to have dark shanks and feet. The sole will reveal their true skin color.

Yellow shanks and toes means yellow skin. Which means not a Marans.