A question about black/blue/splash

[JedJackson]

Why is it sometimes that you will see a bird with both blue or blue splash and also black in its plumage? Specifically in males. You may get a blue breast and a black, beetle green tail, or the opposite. How does that work? Why does it happen?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Why is it sometimes that you will see a bird with both blue or blue splash and also black in its plumage? Specifically in males. You may get a blue breast and a black, beetle green tail, or the opposite. How does that work? Why does it happen?

Blue doesn't breed true, & doesn't always dilute every part of the black chicken. Splash, which is a double dose of blue results in black in the feathers as well, from time to time.

 

[JedJackson]

Blue doesn't breed true, & doesn't always dilute every part of the black chicken. Splash, which is a double dose of blue results in black in the feathers as well, from time to time.

That makes sense. Thanks!

I've seen it a lot of times and always wondered about it.

 

[Amer]

The feather structure.
The blue color is caused because the melanin clumps together instead of spreading evenly over the feather, so the grey color is caused by us seeing the white spots between pigment clumps

On rooster feathers the feather structure is different so the pigment doesn't tend to clump as much.