Mysterious Color Change

[MysteryChicken]

Hello, I have a 3-4yrs old, (not 100% how old, I lost track), White silkie hen. She's is from hatchery stock, but a very good quality hen, despite Parents origin. I hatched her from my original birds.

She's gone through a type of color change with her feathers. Picture above is how she always looked. Blank White.

She's starting to molt out her white feathers, & replacing with yellow, & gray feathers.

I'll get a full body picture later.


I'm curious on what is exactly is going on, & would like to see if any you know, or may have a theory on what's causing this drastic color change?

 

[MysteryChicken]

She hatched in 2016-2017. Somewhere in there.

I lost track, & don't have the exact year, so it's just pure estimation with age.

 

[DarJones]

It looks like dominant white covering up a slew of hidden color genes. Most birds are somewhat diet dependent to produce feather colors. It there a possibility a combination of age and diet is causing the hidden colors to leak?

 

[MysteryChicken]

It looks like dominant white covering up a slew of hidden color genes. Most birds are somewhat diet dependent to produce feather colors. It there a possibility a combination of age and diet is causing the hidden colors to leak?

She's Dominant white yes, I know that one.

Not sure. Been feeding them a high protein diet of 20% Nutrena All Flock pellets, but had to go with Dumor, 17% since they were out of the original feed.

Just gave them a flock block the day after I noticed the odd change, so I don't think it's corn related, since I've seen corns effect on plumage, giving it a slight lemony hue, mainly in the neck, & tail areas.

 

[CrazyCochin]

ince I've seen corns effect on plumage, giving it a slight lemony hue, mainly in the neck, & tail areas.

Seriously?!

 

[The Moonshiner]

You have/had hatchery silkies that are dominate white?
Which hatchery?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Seriously?!

Yep. Usually happens with white birds, when fed corn, or feed containing corn.

 

[MysteryChicken]

You have/had hatchery silkies that are dominate white?
Which hatchery?

Yep, dominant white.

Hoover's.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Seriously?!

Here's the lemony hue due to corn. This is the mother of the Hen in question. This was taken during winter.

 

[CrazyCochin]

Here's the lemony hue due to corn. This is the mother of the Hen in question. This was taken during winter.
View attachment 2798073

No wonder my white hens look like that!

Yep. Usually happens with white birds, when fed corn, or feed containing corn.

Wow!
So, if I wanted to keep them a more pure white, I would take them off the corn-related feed?