Brown on Buff Orph tails.

[loverOFchickens]

Some of my Buff Orphingtons have a little bit of brown on their tails.
Does anyone know if this is a defect or a disqualification?
I would like to know as we recently got the coop so that we can breed pure-breed chickens and I need to know if it would be better to hatch and/or sell eggs from the ones that don't have it.

Thanks,
Bravecock

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

It is a defect, but to my knowledge not a DQ. I believe it is called "smut" but don't quote me on that.

A Buff Orpington should be completely buff. No white, black, brown or other colored feathers on the bird.

 

[loverOFchickens]

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

I've heard it called "pepper" here. It's a fault, but not a DQ

 

[Henk69]

If the pepper is not black but brown there could be chocolate or dunfactor involved. I got my dunfactor from buff rosecombs.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Very interesting reading and beautiful birds!!! (Had to look up "dun factor"):

http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/08E01A05.pdf

 

[Krys109uk]

Absolutely.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Most of my BO hens have that too. It almost looks like they have a little bit of mold on the ends of their tail feathers. I don't use mine for breeding tho- so it makes no difference to me.
I have pullets that I got elsewhere. Waiting to see if they have it too. From what I've seen- it's not that unusual.

 

[Henk69]

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