Darker head feathers?

[Naamahbengals]

Hi all, I saw someone use the word 'moorcap' to describe the dark head feathers on an otherwise light bird. All my current chicks have this dark head, even my white (who has a blueish head). Is this the correct term? Are there other terms for it? And could anyone explain the genetics behind it?

I'm guessing that since every one of my chicks from the same roo has it, and all the moms don't, that it's dominant? But I'm not sure because the roo himself was pure white with no cap - I thought 'oh well white just hides it', but my white chick (not *perfectly* white, she has some flecks of pale red, only noticeable close up, does that make a difference?) has that darker head, so...

If anyone knows more about it, I'd love to hear. Thanks!

 

[Naamahbengals]

Still really curious, I can't find any articles on what the darker head over a regular color is called, or its genetics.

 

[miss heny]

Moorhead is only found,to my knowledge in the owlbeard breed.

 

[Naamahbengals]

Moorhead is only found,to my knowledge in the owlbeard breed.

I'm seeing darker heads on all the cross chicks from my white silkie. Is this a different gene, then?

 

[Veer67]

Moorhead is only found,to my knowledge in the owlbeard breed.

From what I know moorhead can also be found in Silkies, I bet in other breeds as well.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Moorhead or moorcap is caused in part by the charcoal gene, Cha. There may be more genes that enter into it, depending on the extent that the cap extends into the hackles (or not). Db removes some of the dark from the hackle area. Black crested white polish, partridge and grey silkies, lakenvelders and verwork are other breeds/varieties with dark heads. I think SilverSilkie has some information on his website, but I haven't seen him post in quite a while.

 

[Naamahbengals]

Moorhead or moorcap is caused in part by the charcoal gene, Cha. There may be more genes that enter into it, depending on the extent that the cap extends into the hackles (or not). Db removes some of the dark from the hackle area. Black crested white polish, partridge and grey silkies, lakenvelders and verwork are other breeds/varieties with dark heads. I think SilverSilkie has some information on his website, but I haven't seen him post in quite a while.

So is it safe to call dark-headed and hackled chickens 'moorcapped' or will I be told I'm using the wrong term / only xyz breed has moorcaps / etc?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I would call any bird with dark head/hackles (as compared with the rest of its body) moorhead or moorcap.

 

[Naamahbengals]

Ok, thanks. That's what I needed to know. Is Moorcap or Moorhead used more?