Brassy feathers ????

[AHappychick]

My Blue ameraucanas roo who I recently moved to the batchelor coop (there has been no fighting, but before that he was in a big cage getting introdused to alabaster my other roo.) so the situation was obviously stess full. I just today noticed when taking him out to free range that some of the tips of his feathers are getting a brassy color. he is fed the same feed as everyone else and all my others are healthy. i have never seen this before but remember a thread where a rescued roo had it when he was malnutricious. I have done a search but cant find anything. I intend to give him some vitamins and extra yogurt and eggs later but does anyone know what this is, what is causing it and should I be alarmed? he is a bit on the skinny side, I have been trying to cahnge that he was not as high on the pecking order before I selected him as the keeper. Now I am wondering if i made the right choice... I will try to get a pic in a few

 

[threehorses]

I wouldn't worry about it terribly. Are the feathers new feathers? Is he in the sun a bit?

You're right to try the nutritional approach. If you're giving them granite grit in a separate container (which I recommend for all grown birds, chick grit for younger over 4 weeks), you can give him some black oil sunflower seeds to help his over all feather condition and sheen as well.

What is he eating/ How old is he?

 

[AHappychick]

I took some pics just have to upload them, its more gold I guess. I do give sunflower seeds and grit and main feed is Natures Best Grower/developer. He is 5 months old. I am wondering if his color isnt as good as I thought it was, or something else. once the pic is up I know it will be easier to tell.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I wondered that, too. Are you doing this for show? Do you know anything about his line?

 

[AHappychick]

Mine arent for show but I have been selecting my best for breeding. 2 weeks ago when I made my desision he was my nicest blue. well it was him and another but he was more even so I choose him. I should have waited his tail isnt as nice as I would like either. Anyway here are pics, I am holding him and he had been dust bathing before so is all messy looking.

see the gold tips on the feathers

ETA his colloring looks faded to me too not sure what that means....

 

[threehorses]

That sure is a nice color of blue, though!

Well you can't rule out that the feathers are that color because of genetics. I also would like to know what exactly you're feeding him (and again what age is he, please). If you'll let me know, let me mull on this a day and see what I can come up with?

This is pretty interesting.

 

[AHappychick]

he is feed the grower/developer feed which has slightly less protein than the starter. But I also give sunflower seeds (meat only) yogurt on occasion, organic scratch and corn as treats, and free range in the yard ever other day (he takes turns with another roo cause if they are all out at once they have a crowing contest

it is strange right? never seen it before now and certinly would have noticed.

hmmm....

 

[threehorses]

Well his diet sounds right on, and he certainly looks good.

OK, when I first saw that, I thought of mealiness. It's something I've seen discussed in the standard and when I've seen people talking about color breeding on some show forums.

So I did a search and found this (here: http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/breeding_blue_variety.htm) which I'll paste below:

---------
MEALINESS

Is described as "Whole feathers containing any foreign colours in the form of streaks, blobs or patches giving the effect of multi-coloured blue feathers"

This can often occur when two distinctly different colours of Blues are mated together and tend to produce non-acceptable show standard coloured birds. Mealiness also occurs from over use of Black in the breeding pen.

Some effective ways to remove mealiness from future progeny is to:

a) Introduce white blood for one cross which can often remove streaks but will produce a paler bird (effective in Non Laced varieties as well) then take the progeny back to the laced parent.

b) Introduce splashed Wyandotte, to the Blue mating whereby the white factor in the splashed wyandotte assists in eliminating the mealiness of the resultant blue offspring.If you are able to use a splashed bird that has been bred from a Laced Blue mating,so much the better

c) Utilise a Blue to Blue Mating at least every second year securing a richness in colour in the breeding stock.Progeny from this mating can be mixed into the good typed birds that are showing colour faults.
---------

Now alternately, you can pull those feathers and see if they regrow.

Another thing you might find interesting. On page 6, or chapter 6, there's a section on feeding. The article was put together by some Big Boys of showing. You might find it handy for your conditioning of this rooster since you're breeding with a purpose - even if the purpose is just for your own pleasure.

http://gallus.tamu.edu/Extension publications/mp-1066.pdf

 

[AHappychick]

oh thank you so much.

so here is the new thing. yesterday he was fine, I put him out with to free range. 3 hours later he was limping. I immediatly went and picked him up. looked him over and the one leg is swollen mostly around the foot joint. I have given more yogurt, and he is resting in his cage. I am going to try some other things today, but now wonder if they are related... Doesnt seem like it is after reading what you posted (which thank you that sounds like the issue) I am praying its not Mareks but we will see in the next few days

 

[threehorses]

Oh no, that doesn't sound like Mareks but an injury. Particularly because he just went out to free range.

Just watch him - if it worsens or the swelling doesn't go down in a day or so, keep him more limited in movement. Be sure to check his foot pad, etc, for any thorns, cuts, etc - just in case. Then just watch him and let us know how it goes.

I think he's fine - a beautiful boy for sure (I'm jealous!) and will do good for you.

By the way, on the breeding since he's your only boy, when you get your first batch of babies only breed the ones that don't have mealy feather back to ones that again don't have any mealy. That way you'll run it back out of your line.