Golden lace polish turned white

[Jo8981]

So this happened, 18 months old now. He was a rescue so not bothered about breed standards ect just wondered if others had experienced such a dramatic colour change? This is Ron as a youngster and now after losing his final dark feather

 

[sourland]

I have never seen color change like that in a gold laced bird.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So this happened, 18 months old now. He was a rescue so not bothered about breed standards ect just wondered if others had experienced such a dramatic colour change?

That's remarkable, and not really in a desirable way (regarding predators)!

Diet or disease (metabolic).. are my top two guesses with diet being number one.. asking what you feed on a regular basis including treats and supplements?

Diseases of feathers starts on page 24..
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03079458908418580

Taken from that link..
lysine deficiency produces depigmentation

Another link says folic acid deficiency or nutritional imbalance IF not fatty liver syndrome.. Just as possibilities..
http://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php

Not about chickens, but still avian so possibly relevant and at least worth reviewing...
https://birdtricksstore.com/blogs/birdtricks-blog/feather-discoloration

Once more about feather color..
https://petcentral.chewy.com/bird-health-and-feather-color-changes/

Looks like you're not in the US. Not sure what resources are available to you. Sorry I can't be more helpful. I would probably balance the diet. not expecting his color to change back unless maybe after he molts again.

I've never seen it before either, but thank you for sharing so we can hopefully learn something and maybe help if ANY is needed.

 

[Jo8981]

That's remarkable, and not really in a desirable way (regarding predators)!

Diet or disease (metabolic).. are my top two guesses with diet being number one.. asking what you feed on a regular basis including treats and supplements?

Diseases of feathers starts on page 24..
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03079458908418580

Taken from that link..
lysine deficiency produces depigmentation

Another link says folic acid deficiency or nutritional imbalance IF not fatty liver syndrome.. Just as possibilities..
http://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php

Not about chickens, but still avian so possibly relevant and at least worth reviewing...
https://birdtricksstore.com/blogs/birdtricks-blog/feather-discoloration

Once more about feather color..
https://petcentral.chewy.com/bird-health-and-feather-color-changes/

Looks like you're not in the US. Not sure what resources are available to you. Sorry I can't be more helpful. I would probably balance the diet. not expecting his color to change back unless maybe after he molts again.

I've never seen it before either, but thank you for sharing so we can hopefully learn something and maybe help if ANY is needed.

Thank you for your reply. He has been slowly turning white with every feather lost replaced by a white one until eventually this. I'm thinking it's more likely a mutation rather than an illness or diet. I have multiple cockerels and hens and this boy is the only one. They have a good diet and I make sure the boys have access to other feeds not just the layers feed. The fact it started in early age makes me think it's in his genetics somewhere. He is fit and healthy but is the most flighty bird I have. I will do a bit of research xx

 

[ColtHandorf]

I have seen breeds like Sumatras get progressively whiter after each molt. I would be very hard pressed to think those pictures are of the same bird. Did his leg color also change?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

That’s very interesting. Do you have pictures in between him being gold laced and white?