What color is this? ("Buff-laced-blue" patch on a blue Ancona)

[wordgirl]

My four-week-old blue Ancona has a different color patch on her shoulder. I think it's rather pretty, but I'm not sure what color it is exactly. It's almost buff laced blue. Or maybe very diluted/light chocolate feathers with blue in them. What would you call it?

 

[BayGoose]

Hmmm... I never owned anconas before so I'm not sure if this is usual for them or not, but that is pretty! It has that typical mallard coloration. Maybe it's just bleeding through in the genes or could she possibly be a mix? You'll have to wait and see how she looks as an adult

 

[wordgirl]

Thanks! I don't think it's very usual - but yes, she is a pure Ancona. I see what you mean about the Mallard pattern - the two colors in the feather are interesting, though: a "buff" color and blue.

 

[toadbriar]

COOL! Ok here's the deal with Anconas. Most of their colors (blue, black, chocolate etc) are based off them having an extended black gene which covers the mallard pattern. Most breeds of ducks it is preferable to have two copies of the extended black gene. But Anconas do better with one copy. With one copy of the gene, you get wilder spots and markings. But sometimes you get rusting and color bleed through - which in other breeds is a fault, but it is okay in Anconas for the sake of the pattern. This is the mallard pattern bleeding through the extended black. I'd say it's blue fawn. It is gorgeous! I'd call her a tricolor.

With all the birds being Ee you will also get occasional birds WITHOUT the extended black, which is how blue fawns and pencilled and dusky etc Anconas come up.

That is such a cool duck - I am jealous and I am not just saying that cos I mailed you the egg! Hahaha this is why I love Anconas!

 

[ducklover700]

Pretty duckling wordgirl! This makes me wonder about the light brown/buff spot on one of my girls. I'd said something to Toadbriar about it just a few minutes ago, then came across this pic. That's so neat.

 

[wordgirl]

Thanks, toadbriar! I have the Storey's Guide with all the genetic stuff in it, but it's still confusing! I want to understand it, though! It's good to have someone explain it more to me! Bluebell has another at least partial blue fawn patch coming in on top of her head, I think. I can't wait to see her all grown up. She's the petite one of the group, and such a cutie pie. I love the shape of her head and bill, which you can't quite see in that picture. She was the only baby to be born on the hatch date, although still early in the day, so she's the true baby of the family. She was peeping like crazy early that morning as she tried to get out of her shell. She calmed down when I talked, so I got out of bed and talked to her until she hatched and then went back to bed.

ducklover, thank you!

It'd be cool if you have one, too! I was just looking at pictures to see if there was a noticeably different colored spot in that area, but I can't really tell. It kind of looks like there might have been one, but I'm not sure.

 

[AuroraSprings]

Ah! So pretty! We've had some crazy colors this year too. LOOK!


This one turned out to be fawn/white, like a runner. But the females with the same "pattern" turn out just like the Buff ducks. So I know we have some buff genes floating around.


This male front and center is blue/chocolate. It was very definite lacing when he was growing into his feathers, but now it's more blended and murky. Not sure what you'd call the color though.



We have had some odd colored "lavenders" come out too. I get the idea that they are actually "Lilac" as defined by Dave's newest edition of his book. Hard to tell though.

Oddly, even when breeding together an entire pen of blues, we haven't had any real silvers show up. (One MIGHT have been silver, but a 'coon ate it. ugh!)

 

[ducklover700]

Ah! So pretty! We've had some crazy colors this year too. LOOK!


This one turned out to be fawn/white, like a runner. But the females with the same "pattern" turn out just like the Buff ducks. So I know we have some buff genes floating around.


This male front and center is blue/chocolate. It was very definite lacing when he was growing into his feathers, but now it's more blended and murky. Not sure what you'd call the color though.



We have had some odd colored "lavenders" come out too. I get the idea that they are actually "Lilac" as defined by Dave's newest edition of his book. Hard to tell though.

Oddly, even when breeding together an entire pen of blues, we haven't had any real silvers show up. (One MIGHT have been silver, but a 'coon ate it. ugh!)

what did your fawn/white ancona look like as a baby? That makes me really curious! I have on little boy ancona that is known as "pumpkin" cause he's extra fluffy, and more orange than yellow. he doesn't have any spots at all, he just has that orangey fawn color with some lighter yellow.

 

[ducklover700]

Thanks, toadbriar! I have the Storey's Guide with all the genetic stuff in it, but it's still confusing! I want to understand it, though! It's good to have someone explain it more to me! Bluebell has another at least partial blue fawn patch coming in on top of her head, I think. I can't wait to see her all grown up. She's the petite one of the group, and such a cutie pie. I love the shape of her head and bill, which you can't quite see in that picture. She was the only baby to be born on the hatch date, although still early in the day, so she's the true baby of the family. She was peeping like crazy early that morning as she tried to get out of her shell. She calmed down when I talked, so I got out of bed and talked to her until she hatched and then went back to bed.

ducklover, thank you!

It'd be cool if you have one, too! I was just looking at pictures to see if there was a noticeably different colored spot in that area, but I can't really tell. It kind of looks like there might have been one, but I'm not sure.

I have a Blue Belle as well! she's a swedish though.

I'll have to see if I can get a good close up of their tan spots so ya'll can see it. I've got two that have them for sure; one girl that I'm keeping (she has a big bullseye on her back, and the tan spot) and then the blue boy has it too.

 

[toadbriar]

Ah! So pretty! We've had some crazy colors this year too. LOOK!

Ah I had two babies hatch this year who were marked just like this guy, with the neck ring, and the weird dark color and plain feet and bill. Dusky? I think it's really neat how you get this pattern AND the color just as I did. Mine might have had a patch of white belly. Funny thing is they were also both drakes!