Feather discoloration & “splotches”...?

[Baumshell28]

So we’ve had lots of rain this last week. As a matter of fact, we were under flash flood advisories several days in a row. The chicken run is very muddy and because of the vast rain, a lot of the shavings in the coop are also wet. This is Louisiana, so moisture is ever present with humidity usually around 90%. This morning I noticed some dark splotchy patches in several areas of the fluffy butt feathers on one of my golden comets. I haven’t been able to get ahold of her just yet to determine wether it’s mud...or mold...? As I tried to corner her, I realized that the “quills” in a few of her rear end feathers have also gone black! Does anybody know what this might be??? I haven’t noticed it on any other girls so far, but freaked out a bit and was trying to get good enough pics to post. Also, 7 of my 12 girls are barred rocks, so I’m not sure it would stand out to me if any of them had the same thing going on......

 

[swamphiker]

My golden comet has some dark streaks in her tail as well, which I'm pretty sure is normal. You could always check by feeling the feathers, but the coloration is likely just due to pigment. Keep in mind that golden comets are not a true breed and are bred for high egg production, so feather coloration is not something that hatcheries are really concerned about, so there is bound to be variation.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

How old are your girls?? Could it possibly be like a zinc pattern. Is it just the one chicken? I’m not sure if it’s a medical thing from the photos. But I know there’s a chance it could just be her genes. I have a RIR/silkie mix rooster that started out as a simple silver columbian and is now...psychologically complicated. But still even my younger golden comets had black feathers and streaks.

So some birds can change color as they grow.

 

[Baumshell28]

My girls made 12 weeks old Sunday (07/05/20). Yes, as far as I can tell, it’s just this one having these dark splotches and black quills/shafts appearing.
Not sure what zinc patterns are, but I’m gonna go google it now. Thanks y’all!

 

[coach723]

It looks like normal coloring for the breed to me. Golden Comets are hybrids, which means they are mixed breed. They are crosses between a New Hampshire rooster and a White Plymouth Rock hen, so as with all hybrids, their coloring can vary some based on the two different parents. When birds are mixed breeds color leakage can happen from one parent or the other. And as said before, some birds will change color some as they get older. At 12 weeks they are still getting adult feathers in, so changes can happen with each juvenile molt. And as adults, when they molt you will sometime see changes then. Sometimes new feathers coming in will be darker looking, and it can be sometimes because they are fresh new feathers up against faded old feathers. In your case, she's not finished with her first set of feathers yet.

 

[Baumshell28]

How old are your girls?? Could it possibly be like a zinc pattern. Is it just the one chicken? I’m not sure if it’s a medical thing from the photos. But I know there’s a chance it could just be her genes. I have a RIR/silkie mix rooster that started out as a simple silver columbian and is now...psychologically complicated. But still even my younger golden comets had black feathers and streaks. View attachment 2234883View attachment 2234884
So some birds can change color as they grow.

What do you mean by “zinc pattern”? I couldn’t find anything about that on google...well, unless you count how much zinc is in 100 grams of chicken meat, lol!

 

[Oncoming Storm]

What do you mean by “zinc pattern”? I couldn’t find anything about that on google...well, unless you count how much zinc is in 100 grams of chicken meat, lol!

So, do you see the kinda black checkered pattern on that rooster? I asked about his coloring and someone mentioned the zinc pattern. (I thought that’s what it was called...I was pretty sure...). It’s like a genetics thing that’s not linked to a breed.