So Confused....

[mtnmom85]

We have 2 white silkie roosters that were hatched December 23rd. So they are about 24 weeks old. Both are white. When they hatched one was more yellowish and one was more grey. The last few days I started to notice these black "patches" on Gandalf, the one who was more grey, but turned pure white. I picked him up to look to make sure my eyes weren't playing games on me. Sure enough he has black feathers that are starting to show up. And it's the whole feather that is black. It is hard to get a good picture because lets face it....he wont stand still long enough. Is this typical for a silkie to be all white for 23 weeks and then all of a sudden start showing black feathers? His brother, our other white rooster, doesn't have any black feathers anywhere. If so, what would that make him? I know whites "hide colors" when you are breeding them, but I have never seen one just start showing a different color 23 weeks later. I have a Splash silkie pullet so I know he isn't splash. He has more than just the 3 circled. He has a bunch under the feathers covering the back of his neck too.

 

[mtnmom85]

I should add that we believe his dad was a white silkie and mom was a black.

 

[lawson1986]

Totally normal for silkies- that's why if you are breeding for color, you should wait till they are about one year to breed them. The "bleeding" colors don't usuayus appear until they are fully mature and getting their mature feathers in. I have had this happen more than once.

 

[Kessel23]

That is normal if the mom and dad were not the same color.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Possibly a splash?

 

[Gray Farms]

Its normal for leakage to show up only after the first or second molt.