Black Cochin question

[AWChickens]

I've looked online and can't find the answer to this, so I'm asking all you wizzes- is it okay for a black cochin to have a few white feathers?

I just hatched a couple, mostly because it's a breed I hadn't gotten to play with yet

, but my neighbor's kids saw them and came over to chat. They are both in 4-H for the first time this year and have black cochins also, theirs have a few small white feathers under their wings and the girls asked me if this was a fault. I have no idea at all, but told them I'd try to find out.

 

[sandypaws]

i think if they are truly BLACK cochins.. white feathers would be a fault..
but if they are "BLUE" (blues can be blue, white, black or splash)
i had 2 "blue"-black cochins with a few white feathers ... you can use them for breeding (for the blue color) but not for show

if that made any sense????

 

[NYREDS]

If your birds are young & haven't gone thruogh their adult molt yet a few white feathers aren't uncommon. however if the birds are adults the white feathers would be a disqualification in a show.

 

[AWChickens]

Thank you so much

, I knew I'd the answer here. I'll let the girls know, I think their birds are 4-5 months old and wouldn't have molted yet- they hatched them in the early fall so that they'd be ready to show next summer. My guys are just pets, the the neighbors have gotten used to asking me for horse showing advice, and I think they thought I might be able to answer the poultry showing questions too! Little do they know, I may be older, but certainly not wiser

 

[moduckman]

They are right when they say the white feathers may disappear with the moult. Black Cochins will also develope white feathers when stressed a lot. At least that is what I've been told.