**Mottling on my Split/Black Lavender Orpingtons**

[Nivrocco]

Some of my split/black lav chicks have interesting mottled feathers coming in. They are about a month old...I know this is just their first feathers, but it is very pretty...the camera doesn't seem to pick up the coloring as nice as it really looks, but you get the idea.

 

[shelleyb1969]

beautiful! Me want Orps soooo bad (but not buff).

 

[onthespot]

I think that is just juveneile feather stuff. I have had a lot of my black marans, copper black marans do that and then lose it on moult. Too bad, I culled a lot of probably good chickens because of it before I wised up.

 

[Nivrocco]

I figured as much, but it is interesting while it last..

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

If it does last.....you stand a good chance of making mottled lavenders...

 

[Krys109uk]

Have you got any photos of the chicks at hatch? What colour was their down & was there any pattern?

 

[pips&peeps]

I heard from somewhere that the lavender gene diminishes the black "color enhancers" that would generally cover any gold or silver.

I have a couple birds with some silver across their backs and wings this year. I haven't looked close yet, but I believe they are lavender splits, they are toe punched.

 

[hinkjc]

Nivrocco, did you hatch these? If so, from whom? Just curious, as we did identify mottling in our lavender project. Typically the chicks hatch cream colored, but I did find a few of the typical black mottled looking chicks from some of the crosses. It would be interesting to hear what your chick looked like as a baby. I think I see some mottling on the toes, but I'm pretty sure ours had whiter legs than that. The chick could be split for mottling. If you have another suspect, you could cross them and see if it is really mottled or not. Here's a pic of some of our 3rd generation mottled.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

I have a couple that look just like that but older. And I think the OP and I received our birds from the same person. I also believe they are your lines Jody. Off to ask her...bbs

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
Jody those are from my Jack and Jills from Lester. I've never kept any of the Split Blacks just the Lavender color but I know you said this may happen. They were all black chicks when they hatched.