Color changing chicken!

[dawneymay]

Hi! I have an Ancona hen and for her first year she was mostly black with white flecks (hence, the name Sparkles). After her first molt last Spring, her feathers came back completely opposite in color. She is now white with black flecks. Has this happened to anyone else? She is such a funny hen. Loves rain and sprinklers. When all the others are hiding from the moisture, Sparkles can be found outside playing in it!

 

[Alexandra33]

Absolutely stunning girl, with an adorable name, plus personality to go along with it! Both spangled and mottled birds gain more white with each molt, and it appears this is exactly what's happened in your case!

~Alex

 

[lazy gardener]

well stated.

 

[dawneymay]

Ah, thanks so much. And here I thought it was just another one of her magical talents! I have eight hens and six of them will just randomly walk in the house and look around. Our Barred Rock (Oreo) greets us inside the front door along with our three dogs whenever we drive up. She thinks she is a dog. She comes inside and likes to look on the coffee table for snacks! The two Cochins (Grace and Donna Henley) never, ever come indoors.