Feather color changing!

[nicalandia]

How common is it to appear at the age of 2 though?

I will test breed for mottling.

Not common, perhaps it's environmental, other factors.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Not common, perhaps it's environmental, other factors.

Nothing's really changed much.

Diet's been the same for a few years, only minor changes have happened, like nesting box upgrade, run litter, & wonky weather.
All things they're used too.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Nothing's really changed much.

Diet's been the same for a few years, only minor changes have happened, like nesting box upgrade, run litter, & wonky weather.
All things they're used too.

Age has changed and with it so does hormone production.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Age has changed and with it so does hormone production.

She's 2.
Almost done with her molt.

I honestly don't believe it's age, nor hormone related. One reason I'm gonna be test breeding her, & her mother next spring.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thats so interesting.

Yeah, absolutely!

Here's her Father, Dino.

Mother, Smarty Pants. She's always had large amounts of white in her wings, & white down. I believe she gave the trait.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

2020 - 2021
View attachment 3304249View attachment 3304250
2022View attachment 3304253View attachment 3304254

That's amazing! I think you're correct by it coming from her mother. On a far shot of just wondering, has she been through anything traumatic in any way? (Bad pecking order, predator attack in the flock, January thaw molt or other sudden drops in temps, sickness, or anything else that would be 'traumatic'?) Trama probably has nothing to do here, but I am curious.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's amazing! I think you're correct by it coming from her mother. On a far shot of just wondering, has she been through anything traumatic in any way? (Bad pecking order, predator attack in the flock, January thaw molt or other sudden drops in temps, sickness, or anything else that would be 'traumatic'?) Trama probably has nothing to do here, but I am curious.

She's head hen #2.

No trauma, she molts around this time each year.
Predators seem to avoid the coop they're in, for some reason. That coop is the second oldest, & closer to the woods then the other two.

No sickness.
Normal temperature drops in our area, nothing dramatic right now.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Here's her Father, Dino. View attachment 3304422
Mother, Smarty Pants. She's always had large amounts of white in her wings, & white down. I believe she gave the trait.
View attachment 3304423View attachment 3304425View attachment 3304427

They both are so stunning! Wow, his barring is super nice looking!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

She's head hen #2.

No trauma, she molts around this time each year.
Predators seem to avoid the coop they're in, for some reason. That coop is the second oldest, & closer to the woods then the other two.

No sickness.
Normal temperature drops in our area, nothing dramatic right now.

Ok. Thanks for responding. So definitely no trauma had an effect.

How about take a Speckled Sussex into thought. Every year after they molt, they grow more and more white spots. On Buff Orpingtons, I have seen their (body, not hackle) feathers come back lighter every year. (I think there's something more to that, because I've seen that on some people's whole flock, yet my 6 year old grew her rich Buff color back in her last molt after going lighter.) On my Silver Duckwing Old English Game bantam rooster, his black chest grew white spots after molts as he got older. My Buff Orpington/Buff Brahma hen was Buff all over, but as she grew older, she grew unwanted black markings. (These change in feather color is why you should only show birds in their first year before their first molt.)

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok. Thanks for responding. So definitely no trauma had an effect.

How about take a Speckled Sussex into thought. Every year after they molt, they grow more and more white spots. On Buff Orpingtons, I have seen their (body, not hackle) feathers come back lighter every year. (I think there's something more to that, because I've seen that on some people's whole flock, yet my 6 year old grew her rich Buff color back in her last molt after going lighter.) On my Silver Duckwing Old English Game bantam rooster, his black chest grew white spots after molts as he got older. My Buff Orpington/Buff Brahma hen was Buff all over, but as she grew older, she grew unwanted black markings. (These change in feather color is why you should only show birds in their first year before their first molt.)

I know feathers can change abit, whether it's just a couple random (small) white spots, or fading abit is common in 6+ year old chickens. Something I've seen this with my one of my Australorps a few years back.