Is my lavender orpington frizzling??

[jendodd79]

We've noticed in the last few weeks that our 16 week old lavender orp Silvie's feather are not straight and smooth like our Buff (or any of our other birds).

Is this a type of frizzling? Any thoughts?

Sorry about the instagram iphone pics!

 

[hdowden]

no they are just ruffed up feathers

 

[sevenbabychicks]

I don't think that's frizzling... the feathers don't look to be turning upward. It seems more like she's just been neglecting her preening duties. Or maybe she's about to molt?

 

[jendodd79]

She's only 16 weeks - do orpingtons molt early?

Yes, they definitely don't turn upwards, but it's every single feather on her body. I love it, it makes her look really fluffy!

 

[hdowden]

they look like she maybe getting bet up on or if you have a cockerel/rooster then he has been trying to mate with her.

 

[jendodd79]

No rooster and she's one of the top hens in the pack!

 

[Shaffer]

That is a genetic defect that plagues the Lavender color. It does not bother the Araucanas much and only somewhat with the Ameraucanas because they have harder feathers than an Orpngton which is soft feathered. You have to breed that out of the line. It has to do with lavender gene linked with the K gene as I have read somewhere.

 

[jendodd79]

Very cool! So I just have hens for laying, but if I do decide to breed and hatch, what would I look for in a roo?

Is it
Just cosmetic or will it bother her?

 

[jendodd79]

Very cool! So I just have hens for laying, but if I do decide to breed and hatch, what would I look for in a roo?

Is it
Just cosmetic or will it bother her?

 

[banjoejoe4783]

That is a genetic defect that plagues the Lavender color. It does not bother the Araucanas much and only somewhat with the Ameraucanas because they have harder feathers than an Orpngton which is soft feathered. You have to breed that out of the line. It has to do with lavender gene linked with the K gene as I have read somewhere.

verry well said you need to insert black into your breeding pen