Mama chicken changing colors

[arkk]

I have a hen that was light tan color and hatched out 11 black chicks (probably barred rock mix) the hen now 8 weeks after hatching them out is changing color. Her feathers are slowly changing to dark brown and black. Any idea why?

 

[SilverBirds]

What breed is mama hen? How old is she? Do you have some before and after pictures?

 

[nuthatched]

She's molting, her new, not sunbleached feathers are coming in.

 

[arkk]

What breed is mama hen? How old is she? Do you have some before and after pictures?

I don't know what breed, she is two or three years old. I don't have an after picture, I'll try to go get one in a bit. Here are two before...

 

[arkk]

She's molting, her new, not sunbleached feathers are coming in.

If she is molting it is a very minor molt. She was a very light gray as a chick and as an adult has always been a very light tan.

 

[Perris]

the hen now 8 weeks after hatching them out is changing color. Her feathers are slowly changing to dark brown and black. Any idea why?

full grown feathers are dead, so the colour change must be on the surface. Is she dustbathing in dark brown/black material? Is she getting infested with some sort of bug?

 

[PopoMyers]

She putting on her Halloween costume. Be interesting to see her current plumage to compare.

 

[arkk]

Here are both the before and after pics. This is the change within about a week and a half. It does look like she may be molting a little.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That's pretty nifty! Looks like something recessive in her coloration activated after she molted from brooding the chicks.