Can anyone sex these chicks?

**MrsC** · 15-05-2010, 08:08 PM

I'm no expert, but going off those pics, 1 boy and 1 girl on the marans (left being the boy), 2 boys and 1 girl on the poots (2 on the right being the boys)

Sure someone will be along soon to let you know

**jessmorris** · 15-05-2010, 08:14 PM

Thats what I thought! I'll see what other replies I get. I had no idea that chciks changed so quickly, I was looking forward to weeks of fluffy loveliness.....

**RichmondHens** · 15-05-2010, 08:35 PM

Ditto Mrs C.

Did you really think they would be fluffy for weeks? The boys may start to crow at 7 weeks and by 12 weeks they will be turning into little thugs. At 20 odd weeks they might be big enough to eat!

**jessmorris** · 15-05-2010, 08:43 PM

I'm only a starry eyed beginner in all this!

**jessmorris** · 15-05-2010, 08:45 PM

PS the marans are thugs already - dashing about, digging up the run, standing on tiptoes to have a nose in their ma's feeder, feinting at each other, squeaking, peeping and even pecking me!

**MrsC** · 15-05-2010, 08:49 PM

Jess, I have a 4 wk old Silver Laced Wyandotte and I said he was a boy right from the start. He's a swine, but cute, not for much longer though I think!

**jessmorris** · 15-05-2010, 08:53 PM

Coq au vin?!

**MrsC** · 15-05-2010, 09:11 PM

Not for me, I'm veggie. He's cute though and I'm a softy will try to keep him because he was the last to hatch and had splayed legs and I splinted them, he also has a curled toe so sort of hops around at time. I'm a sucker for a sob story lol

**jessmorris** · 15-05-2010, 09:54 PM

Ahh. Its hard not to get attached to them. These are my first hatchlings and I'll be sorry to se them go.....

**Bramble-Poultry** · 15-05-2010, 09:57 PM

Can't tell with combs on a cuckoo maran easiest way to tell is at chick stage - you can sex them easiest when still fluffy! however at this age .......... USUALLY the darker maran will be a girl as the boys are lighter (opposite to all other marans where the lighter is the girl!) and boys actually have different patterning - so def 1 girl, I'm not convinced about the other without grabbing hold of it and pulling its neck feathers back!! However it will become apparent very quickly at this age as if its a he then he will start to get less "cuckooing" (you know what I mean) down his back - he will retain it on his chest but will become more barred on his back and he may start to develop yellowy/orangy tinge to his hackles, his hackle will also become very long - its difficult to explain but will be obvious when it happens! He can be up to a six months old before full comb and wattles come, so not a good guide of sex!

Sablepoots - 2 boys and a girl there I'm afraid!! Shame your not nearer would have taken a boy!

**jessmorris** · 19-05-2010, 11:09 AM

Thanks

Big thankyous to everyone who responded. The maran chicks were both nearly black when fluffy so I thought they would be girls -ah well! The pooters are deffo two of one sort and two of the other - so 2 gels and 2 boys I think!

**Nicos** · 19-05-2010, 12:34 PM

My male copper black Marans chicks have longer tails and wing feathers than the females- no idea if that is the case with the cookoo Marans though.

**Nicos** · 19-05-2010, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by Bramble-Poultry View Post

I'm not convinced about the other without grabbing hold of it and pulling its neck feathers back!! !

Out of interest- what would you be looking for by doing that??

**its hilly** · 19-05-2010, 04:08 PM

On the barred wyandottes the chicks are all hatched black, but the boys have a white spot on the top of their heads and the girls dont. Does that happen in the cuckoo Maran? I was told it does with barred rocks, and they said they thought with all barred breeds but weren't sure.

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Can anyone sex these chicks?

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