Blue/green feathers showing up on my BR

[xBRIANx]

Otis is an odd bird, both in body and mind. She is a barred rock bantam from MPC who is about 17 weeks old. She recently went through a quick molting. Today I was quite surprised to see a couple black/blue/green feathers have appeared. Does this mean there are some black plymouth rock genetics floating around in that weird, weird bird? Any thoughts or has anyone seen this before?

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[Mahonri]

Interesting... I've never seen that.

 

[Bantimna]

That seems to be a unusual colour.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The green sheen in black feathers is a result of the feather structure, and how it refracts light, not a pigment deposited in the feather. That said, the feather looks unusual.

 

[Krys109uk]

It's reasonably common in barred rocks, (at least in UK). I gather most people just pull them out & hope they're barred when they grow back in; they often are. Dr.Clive Carefoot wrote the reason for these all black feathers but I can't remember offhand.

 

[speckledhen]

My Lexie, who is an Ideal hatchery bird, has one solid black feather on her chest, which I've seen on several BRs.

 

[critterluv]

I have a BR hen ,her barring is that color,the whole feather is not solid just the dark bars.

 

[Dustin Biery]

I have seen it repeatedly in BRs, hatchery, breeder, and show stock. That just seems like an odd place. Most of the ones I have ever witnessed were in the tail (saddle) area. It has been my experience, as Krys stated, that if removed, it will grow in correctly after the next molt.

 

[xBRIANx]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Like so many things chicken related, what is basic knowledge to a lot of you is a mystery to me.

I've enjoyed watching the EEs grow up and surprise me with their constant changes; it seems Otis has some surprises too.

We'll leave the feathers in place, no need to pluck as she's only a pet...