“Split” Colour Feather Genetics - Anyone Know What This Is About?

[hannahsocal]

Hello! So I was holding one of my pullets this morning and saw something I’ve never seen before - a split coloured feather! Anyone know what could cause this genetically? If I pluck it will it grow back split? So interesting!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I don't know what causes it or if it will regrow if plucked, but it's not uncommon in Blue plumage in my experience. I wonder if @nicalandia might know?

 

[Amer]

It’s a common thing and blues and probably won’t grow back. Just a mistake in feather formation. The blue gene causes a change in the shape of the melanin pigment (but they usually remain normal on the edges of feathers.) In the case of your hen she has regular pigment.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It happens in other colors too. I had a black sumatra that had a half wild type looking feath in a few spots