Shiny feather chickens

[townchicks]

Sounds like you take much better care of your chickens, but I think it is more likely a genetic trait. My RIR has very shiny feathers, my 2 EEs are not shiny, and they all get the same care and diet.

 

[Cyprus]

@frostic Do yours look like this

And his like this?

 

[frostic]

I added pics of my chickens. but my camera is low res.

 

[frostic]

@frostic Do yours look like this
View attachment 1444787
And his like this?
View attachment 1444789

yes. that is exactly the difference.
i added pic of mine but its low res pics.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Looks like you have RIR and he may have Buff Orpingtons.

 

[Cyprus]

yes. that is exactly the difference.
i added pic of mine but its low res pics.

Okay well from what I can tell you have chickens that are closest to real RIR.
His are more typical of what are called "Production Reds".
Feather color is genetic so the best explanation that I can give is that she changed her breeding stock at some point or has selected for better traits over time.
I would ask her if she's still breeding ALL of the same birds from 2 years ago.

 

[frostic]

Looks like you have RIR and he may have Buff Orpingtons.

but the breeder we goto only has RIR's so I don't think she would have got a different breed out of RIRs.

 

[frostic]

Okay well from what I can tell you have chickens that are closest to real RIR.
His are more typical of what are called "Production Reds".
Feather color is genetic so the best explanation that I can give is that she changed her breeding stock at some point or has selected for better traits over time.
I would ask her if she's still breeding ALL of the same birds from 2 years ago.

very informative thankyou!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Maybe you posted the wrong photo? That second photo is of a Buff Orpington rooster.

 

[Silkie2]

Just went and took some pictures of my birds.

here is one of our RIRS

Here is also one of our RIRS

Both get fed the exact same.

Now here’s one of NHRs who came from a normal feed store (New Hampshire red)

Terrible plumage right? It came from a feed store.

Now here’s an NHR from a german show line (very fancy genetics lol) exact same breed just different genetics..

(Ignore the extended leg, it was walking away as i took the pic lol)