What breed of chicken is this, and what gender?

[Linda112]

Attached is a photo of our chickens Thelma and Louise. Our kids got them for my husband about 10 days ago and no one thought to ask what breed of chicken they are. We were told they were hens, but no eggs yet and I heard crowing this morning! Do hens ever crow?

 

[Poultrybreeder]

I see what appears to be light feathering the legs of one of them. Black Copper Marans maybe? The other one might be a BCM mix. And they are bother roosters. Have a great day and God Bless!

 

[Table4Six]

Agreed. BCM mixes and both boys. Possibly the one with feathered legs is pure. They're very pretty boys! Where did you get them?

 

[Gray Farms]

Black Copper Marans. Both are males, you'll be getting no eggs from these two. They look young, 6-7 months maybe. It makes me wonder if somebody deliberately plucked out their tail feathers to try to make them look more like hens.

 

[Linda112]

Agreed. BCM mixes and both boys. Possibly the one with feathered legs is pure. They're very pretty boys! Where did you get them?

Farm supply place in Orlando, Florida.

 

[Linda112]

Black Copper Marans. Both are males, you'll be getting no eggs from these two. They look young, 6-7 months maybe. It makes me wonder if somebody deliberately plucked out their tail feathers to try to make them look more like hens.

That makes me sad; we like these guys, but our neighbors may not!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I hope not too, but it is possible. Maybe it was just been a space issue? The last time I went into Rural King they had one older bird in a very small cage but fortunately someone was purchasing it. If they had them together with not enough space and nothing to entertain them it is possible they pulled the feathers out of the other.

 

[Linda112]

May be a dumb question, but how can you all tell they are males? Just the crowing? Thanks for all the replies; they are a handsome pair, that’s for sure.

 

[Gray Farms]

The saddle feather are the dead give away. Also their pattern is male specific. Black Copper Marans hens are a different pattern.

 

[Criticalicious]

Here's a BCM rooster at 3 months old. Looks very similar to yours, except he has tail feathers.