French Cuckoo Marans

[Aporter0190]

I bought 8 French cuckoo Marans from tractor supply. 3 are a dark black color and 5 are a light gray color. Does the color identify them as male and female? I know one already has a bigger comb than the rest and is more than likely a roo.

 

[Wezdin]

They do not have feathered feet and are therefore not french maran, but, yes, there is a way to tell by looking at the barring I'm just not sure what it is but someone who does will surely chime in. Good Luck!

 

[Aporter0190]

They do not have feathered feet and are therefore not french maran, but, yes, there is a way to tell by looking at the barring I'm just not sure what it is but someone who does will surely chime in. Good Luck!

I’m just calling them what tractor supply had them labeled as. So if they aren’t French then what are they? They are 4 weeks old now.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Exactly what you said. The lighter birds are more than likely male, and the darker birds are female. This come from the males having two copies of the barring gene; one from mom and one from dad, making them appear lighter. The females only have one copy, from mom, and therefore appear darker.
So, that said, you have 5 probable cockerels and 3 pullets.

Also, without the feathered legs, I'd have to agree. These are American Cuckoo Marans.

 

[Aporter0190]

Exactly what you said. The lighter birds are more than likely male, and the darker birds are female. This come from the males having two copies of the barring gene; one from mom and one from dad, making them appear lighter. The females only have one copy, from mom, and therefore appear darker.
So, that said, you have 5 probable cockerels and 3 pullets.

Also, without the feathered legs, I'd have to agree. These are American Cuckoo Marans.

Fantastic. Looks like I’ll be selling/trading 4 of them if they are Roos. Thanks for the info!

 

[Gray Farms]

I agree with @Frazzemrat1 and @BarnhartChickens98, the light ones are boys and they must be feather legged to be French Marans. Non-feathered legs are American Marans, which is what most hatcheries carry.

 

[Gray Farms]

Also if you keeping one male for breeding don't keep the male in the back with the yellow legs. Marans standard calls for white skin.

 

[Aporter0190]

Also if you keeping one male for breeding don't keep the male in the back with the yellow legs. Marans standard calls for white skin.

Thank you for this info. I was gonna keep the one next to him with the bigger comb.

 

[Gray Farms]

The left most one looks to have the best pattern to me. You may want to keep two. It never hurts to have a backup male. At least until the first batch of chicks hatch.

 

[Aporter0190]

The left most one looks to have the best pattern to me. You may want to keep two. It never hurts to have a backup male. At least until the first batch of chicks hatch.

That is smart. But I do have a fully grown silkie roo and his half breed son and another silkie baby roo should I make a balchor pad for them and take them out when I want to breed them?