Buff Orpington Now an Unknown Species? ;-;

[Firearia]

Well, today I went down to do the usual and feed my chickens. However most/all of my hens were sprouting the normal tail feathers, buff coloured. However I noticed some of them were black spotted, one hen had all new ones growing in that were all like that. My chickens are three months old and are pure Orpington. I'm absolutely 100% sure that their parents are pure,and now I'm throughly confused. The roosters don't have ANY!

We had one rain, could that have put 'mold' on their feathers? Are they really a different breed? Is it a sickness?

I'll post pictures as soon as I can get some, but for now I'd like any answers or guesses that you would have! Please help me!

 

[PunkinPeep]

I don't have an official genetics answer for you, but i know that i remember some of my girls doing the same thing when they were younger. I have no idea why they do that, but now they're all nice and buff colored.

I'll be interested in reading a more "official" answer.

 

[Firearia]

Thank you so much though, It makes me much happier. I thought it was strange that at three months they would just decide to grow those, I hope it changes like yours though.

EDIT: It's just that if the babies turned out like that when I bred them, I wouldn't be able to sell anymore, or show.

 

[punky rooster]

my hatchery bo had black spots on his tail feathers to

 

[erin76]

Mine does too...She's 18 weeks.

 

[jeremy]

Sometimes in the Buff variety black spots, or smudges can appear. Oftentimes this is called "smuttyness", it can be due to a number of different genetic scenarios. However it does not mean that your Orpingtons aren't Orpingtons. The smut should clear up with molting.

Hope I helped.

ETA: I'm sure some real genetic whiz will come along and give you a more in depth answer.

 

[Firearia]

Well, I'm glad that it will clear up! I was starting to get used to it though, and thought I could actually breed some new thing with it.

I'm also delighted that you may have solved others answers too!