Black australorps without any green?

[AustraHatch]

Hey guys i have 5 black and 5 splash australorps.
I have 2 roosters of each type so reasonably happy. However, one of my black Australorp roosters does not have any green sheen and is fully black/green? He is a purebred so slightly confused. The chicks are 7 weeks old so just wondering if it will stay this way, or if he will molt into a green sheen coat and if not is it genetic?

 

[CheekyChook13]

Hey guys i have 5 black and 5 splash australorps.
I have 2 roosters of each type so reasonably happy. However, one of my black Australorp roosters does not have any green sheen and is fully black/green? He is a purebred so slightly confused. The chicks are 7 weeks old so just wondering if it will stay this way, or if he will molt into a green sheen coat and if not is it genetic?

They don’t usually get sheen till after the juvenile moult sometimes not even until they are a year old, for my black birds anyway but they are a different breed

 

[AustraHatch]

They don’t usually get sheen till after the juvenile moult sometimes not even until they are a year old, for my black birds anyway but they are a different breed

thanks. all the other four (one other rooster and three hens) have got their sheen though. its not as pronounced as i expect it will be when fully grown but they have it. this rooster however does not.

 

[CheekyChook13]

thanks. all the other four (one other rooster and three hens) have got their sheen though. its not as pronounced as i expect it will be when fully grown but they have it. this rooster however does not.

He may be a bit behind, or slightly lower quality than the others but he’ll probably get it later

 

[AustraHatch]

He may be a bit behind, or slightly lower quality than the others but he’ll probably get it later

ok. he is much larger than the others and is the dominant rooster in their flock. im considering selling him as well as my excess splash rooster. I have a BA rooster who is showing much more colour and genetic potential as well as a splash rooster who is showing high potential for colour.

 

[nuthatched]

Only healthy birds in adult feathering get the sheen.

 

[AustraHatch]

Only healthy birds in adult feathering get the sheen.

i thought that but all of my other 4 7 week old black australorps have the sheen when in the sun. all of them except this rooster?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Some breeders wait until the chickens are 2 years old to determine which ones are worth breeding. That's not just for feather color but other things as well.

Feathers can change after a juvenile molt. I've had a single recessive gene express itself in juvenile plumage and disappear in a later juvenile molt. I had a hen go from "mottled" to "exchequer" after her first adult molt. Try not to freak out over a sheen in a 7-week-old chicks feathers. You don't know what might happen after a couple of molts.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Have any pictures?

 

[AustraHatch]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Some breeders wait until the chickens are 2 years old to determine which ones are worth breeding. That's not just for feather color but other things as well.

Feathers can change after a juvenile molt. I've had a single recessive gene express itself in juvenile plumage and disappear in a later juvenile molt. I had a hen go from "mottled" to "exchequer" after her first adult molt. Try not to freak out over a sheen in a 7-week-old chicks feathers. You don't know what might happen after a couple of molts.

thank you. that makes a lot of sense. it is my first flock ive grown out for breeding so thank you