Do chickens feathers change color as they get older? Do the beaks grow?

[Blackberry18]

I was up at my coop today, and I noticed that my 6-year-old Black Sex-Link (which I believe is a second generation one) is growing white feathers on her neck. What is a cause for that? Also, I noticed her beak seems to have grown. It was black before, but then just recently grew a ring of yellow near the face. I don't have any pics yet, but can add some if it would help.

 

[nchls school]

Coloring can change a little or a lot. Factors that cause this are diet, age, health, and genetics. Beaks like toe nails grow all the time the bird is alive. Normally the beak is constantly worn down through use, but, like color, beaks can become overly long for a variety of reasons-all those I listed for color and sometimes upper and lower do not line up so the beak is not worn down through use.

 

[ParrotTheBantam]

I own a bantam, and she is around 9 months old. Very very small still, i have tried to find out chickens of her beautiful grey color but i havent found one at all, thousands of google images. There has been one similar bantam, but it was a very light grey, mine is dark grey. Is this normal??

 

[Mrs. K]

@ParrotTheBantam - yes, your color is normal - it is an effect of genetics. Most likely a cross bred bird. When you get confirmation as in birds look alike, that is a pure bred bird, and even then, it is not perfect due to genetic changes.

@Ncls school - age begins to show on all of us (sometimes I am surprised at that old woman in the mirror) Once they are past 3-4, they just start looking older. The growing beak might be a sign she is not eating enough. You might weigh her. But it also just might be near the end of her time.

Mrs K

 

[ParrotTheBantam]

Thank you Mrs. K. Sadly, Parrot is missing :/ so life hasnt been so great. We believe a buzzard got her...darn buzzards.

 

[Mrs. K]

The predators always get the favorites, it just sucks, and it is hard. My sympathies.