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Chicken colors question and hen rejecting her chicks of a particular color

Discussion in 'Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the Standard o' started by dustbunny86, Aug 7, 2014.

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  1. Aug 7, 2014 #1
    dustbunny86

    dustbunny86 New Egg

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    Aug 7, 2014
    Hi, I'm new here. I own a buff orpington hen and a blue silkie roo. My buff just hatched a clutch of eggs this week and 9 of them are a reddish-brown with black on their foreheads/backs, one is reddish brown, and three are a light opal/lavender color with a buffcolored spot on their foreheads. My hen rejected all the light color chicks and will peck and Chase them away but my roo has become very motherly, protecting them, showing them how to scratch, sleeping on the ground and allowing them to sleep under him.

    Anyhow, I was curious as to the genetics of chicken colors and if there is a name for the chicks' colors and if it is normal for a roo to mother some of his chicks.

    A couple pics

    The reddish Brown w/black chicks in the foreground
    [​IMG]


    The roo with the light colored rejected chicks
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Aug 7, 2014 #2
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Chicken Obsessed

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    I’ve never had a problem with a hen rejecting any chicks because of color or anything else, but some people say they have seen it. It obviously can happen.

    It is not unusual for a rooster to take care of chicks. It doesn’t happen all the time but a good rooster takes care of all members of his flock. Not all are good, but most mature roosters are.
     

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