Red color under the black feathers? (pics)

[Bama1]

This morning I go out to check on my chickens. I have two little guys that I have figured out are boys because they were so BAD! Mean to everyone else, so they are in a pen by themselves. They were solid black when I got them, then they started getting the white around the neck. This morning I look and immediately think, oh no, they have hurt each other because there is reddish spots on their backs that were not there yesterday. After closer observation, LOL, I think it is red feathers? I have no idea what breed these are either. Any ideas?

 

[donrae]

Their color is birchen, that's where they start black and get the grey on the neck, they'll probably have grey saddle feathers when they get older. The red on the wings in called leakage, it's a red color leaking through the black. There's a lot more genetic-wise to it, but that's the basic. The red color will spread as they age, they'll have handsome red wings later on.

 

[Bama1]

Their color is birchen, that's where they start black and get the grey on the neck, they'll probably have grey saddle feathers when they get older. The red on the wings in called leakage, it's a red color leaking through the black. There's a lot more genetic-wise to it, but that's the basic. The red color will spread as they age, they'll have handsome red wings later on.

Thank you! I looked at pics of the Birchen Roosters, and they are very lovely.

 

[hdowden]

they could be birchen in color with leakage or just a mix breed. my 2nd gen silkie/d'uccle mix looked like that at first as well

 

[Bama1]

they could be birchen in color with leakage or just a mix breed. my 2nd gen silkie/d'uccle mix looked like that at first as well

I bet that is an awesome looking cross!