I need help with potential sexing

[Slater0805]

We got our chick's from a family friend 2 1/2 days post hatch. They're 4 weeks today and these two are the only black copper maran/leg bar mix we have so I wanted to get some guesses on sex between them. I'm aware it's easier later on to confirm but I have my guesses already based on sizing being the same age and feather growth. The more redish one/larger one we named hot mama and the smaller one who just started getting tail feathers last week is 'Mary'. Being mixed I know it's harder for identifying but still a big difference at this point and being mixed the article for identifying makes it much more confusing to me

 

[nuthatched]

Too early to say. Watch for comb and wattles development and red wind patches.

 

[Tookie]

I think you forgot to add pictures, haha!

 

[Slater0805]

I think you forgot to add pictures, haha!

Oh no! It shows I posted 2x! The other one kept the pictures!

 

[Tookie]

Oh no! It shows I posted 2x! The other one kept the pictures!

Oooh, I see! That happens quite often, duplicate threads and one not having pictures. I can take a look at your other thread!

 

[Slater0805]

Oooh, I see! That happens quite often, duplicate threads and one not having pictures. I can take a look at your other thread!

Okay

 

[Tookie]

I agree they're a bit young to know for certain, but right now I think all are pullets.
No red and big combs, and the feather patterns are nice and even. But time will tell! Though I would be surprised if none were cockerels since they were hatched by your friend and not ordered as pullets.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Nothing screaming "boy" at me yet. Are we sure on the cross? I would have expected black copper marans/legbar mixes to be mostly black with some color leakage

 

[Slater0805]

I agree they're a bit young to know for certain, but right now I think all are pullets.
No red and big combs, and the feather patterns are nice and even. But time will tell! Though I would be surprised if none were cockerels since they were hatched by your friend and not ordered as pullets.

Our remaining 8 chicks are bcm/barred rock mixes from the same rooster. Those ones are much more harder for me but for them I'm watching for the black feathers on the head from what I understand to watch for with pullets but they all mostly have combs that are pinking up.

Nothing screaming "boy" at me yet. Are we sure on the cross? I would have expected black copper marans/legbar mixes to be mostly black with some color leakage

She said the eggs she was hatching were from her only rooster at that time which is a bcm she had a barred rock roo at one point but he was mean so she removed him and not apart of this batch. Which I'd assume also would be mostly black like the other chicks that you can tell are barred mix. The only other mix could potentially be bcm roo / bcm hen which i think i may have some of those too potentially that part I'm waiting for more growth from them first though which is why I didn't post them yet.

 

[Tookie]

Our remaining 8 chicks are bcm/barred rock mixes from the same rooster. Those ones are much more harder for me but for them I'm watching for the black feathers on the head from what I understand to watch for with pullets but they all mostly have combs that are pinking up.

The best way to tell gender is by comb development. If combs and wattles start getting bigger and redder, at a younger age, its probably a male. Generally pullets don't redden a bunch up until right before they start to lay. Starting at about 12 weeks old males will start getting male specific feathering, so that's another way to tell males apart.