Feather Shape on Cockerel’s Back

[sjango]

Ive recently been noticing it seems one of my cockerels has significantly larger feathers on his back. I’m curious to hear other opinions? Is this within the range of normal?

This is the cockerel in question.

These two on the other hand look more normal to me.

 

[nuthatched]

Your red roo has hackles and saddles that look abnormaly short to me.
They are both handsome!

 

[sjango]

Haha, I guess that’s true too!

 

[sjango]

These are the feathers I’m talking about.

 

[BunnyEberhart]

They are absolutely beautiful. I am not sure the feathers are an issue. Probably just a genetic abnormality that makes them catch more light thus more impressive in my personal opinion.

 

[nuthatched]

View attachment 2453977
These are the feathers I’m talking about.

I think that depends on the breed, age and health of the bird, I think all males have longer feathers on their backs, but maybe yours are more noticeable.
Here's my rooster, he's pretty shaggy.

 

[sjango]

Thank you everyone! These birds are an island landrace so there is a lot of diversity, they also descended from both the red and green junglefowl. Still more red than green, but with a higher percentage of green junglefowl than most common poultry.
I was wondering if those feathers were because of the hybridization.

 

[sjango]

That beautiful iridescence has to do with the green junglefowl, at least that’s my understanding.

 

[Amer]

View attachment 2453977
These are the feathers I’m talking about.

Wow! They’re very lustrous! I think those are called cape feathers, they’re always there beneath the hackles, but since your rooster doesn’t have a fully-grown hackle they are exposed. I’ve seen them many times.

 

[sjango]

Wow! They’re very lustrous! I think those are called cape feathers, they’re always there beneath the hackles, but since your rooster doesn’t have a fully-grown hackle they are exposed. I’ve seen them many times.

Thank you! I was certainly not discounting that as a possibility.