To me the hardest area on a bird to get solid buff is the tail on males of Buff Leghorns and too a lesser degree Buff Minorcas.Since Buff Leghorns have the longest main tails,main sickles,lesser sickles and lesser tail coverts,of any buff breed,they pose the greatest buff color challenge.It is usually where you will see a partial cream feather ,chestnut brown or darker red feather.Many times you will not see it in a cockerel until the feathers are fully finished,as it can be at the lower (base) of the feathers (nearer the under fluff). If you have a solid buff cock bird,especially one of 3 or 4 years or more,then you have a bird that passes the ultimate buff color test.This cock bird should be used as long as he lives and is fertile,for he is an outstanding buff color individual. Allow a bit of slack here for injuries,health and management.It takes good care and health for older males to molt in and it takes months for the longer feathers to grow.Shorter tailed birds are quicker to molt,but medium length and longer tailed birds are the ultimate,they test both the bird and the breeder.You have to be a good care giver and conditioner.With all this being said,Leghorns are suppose to be hardy and practical birds.You do not want the non-molting gene,the slow feathering gene,or the narrow feather gene.Narrow feathers with thin weak feather shafts,are feathers that do not wear well and are brittle and brake easily.
