White Ayam Cemani Chick?¿?

[Fishkeeper]

Ayams are black because of fibromelanism, an overabundance of pigment in everywhere. This little guy might have a mutation that removes that, or it might be leucistic. Leucism is a partial loss of pigment, usually only in some areas of the animal. University of Texas campus has a small population of leucistic squirrels that still have a bit of brown under their tails and around their bellies, and black eyes. It's also what causes piebald animals, I think.

 

[Cyprus]

Who did you get them from?
How many chicks hatched?
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but that could be an allelic trait.

Direct importation of AC stock to the USA has been illegal for quite some time. It is possible this line was outbred at some point to a white bird, maybe a Bresse, and this chick got the luck of the draw in retrieving the gene that may have been mostly bred out.

 

[Cyprus]

Either way, I would contact the seller.

 

[Fishkeeper]

I'd contact the seller, but politely, keeping in mind that this might be a mutation. Suggest it's a mutation and casually ask if they've had any others pop up like this.

Though, if this is a result of outcrossing, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Outcrossing helps to reduce inbreeding and keep a breed healthy and strong, so, as long as the traits are bred back out, it's good for the breed. It's used in a few dog breeds to prevent health problems, but not NEARLY enough.

 

[Criticalicious]

I wonder how its feathers will look once they grow in? For example BCM babies have yellow underbodies but then they grow in mostly black.

 

[Whitewalker253]

Just a quick update on my little anomaly. He or she seems to be doing really well. The feathers seem to be coming in all white. There are two little black blotches on the chest still but I don’t think it’s anything other then the skin showing through the fluff. The mouth inside is in fact black after further review. It’s safe to say at this point that it has all the black features of a Cemani except for the white feathering. Very very strange. I contacted the breeder I bought the eggs from and they advised they have never seen anything of the sort, and to hold on to it as some would love to have this bird. Could have been saying it of course because its from them, considering I got a white bird from their black flock lol. Valuable or not I could care less, I just think it’s a really odd thing to see and am excited to see how it plays out. Gives me another cool chicken story for my arsenal. I’d still love to hear from anyone who may have seen something like this before. Until then here’s some more pics

 

[Cyprus]

Just a quick update on my little anomaly. He or she seems to be doing really well. The feathers seem to be coming in all white. There are two little black blotches on the chest still but I don’t think it’s anything other then the skin showing through the fluff. The mouth inside is in fact black after further review. It’s safe to say at this point that it has all the black features of a Cemani except for the white feathering. Very very strange. I contacted the breeder I bought the eggs from and they advised they have never seen anything of the sort, and to hold on to it as some would love to have this bird. Could have been saying it of course because its from them, considering I got a white bird from their black flock lol. Valuable or not I could care less, I just think it’s a really odd thing to see and am excited to see how it plays out. Gives me another cool chicken story for my arsenal. I’d still love to hear from anyone who may have seen something like this before. Until then here’s some more pics

Did you ask the breeder how genetically diverse their flock is? I'm thinking this may be an inbred trait.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Looks like a luecistic Ayam Cemani.

 

[Cyprus]

Looks like a luecistic Ayam Cemani.

Exactly.
Especially because the comb is white and eyes are black.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Exactly.
Especially because the comb is white and eyes are black.

And the beak is lighter too.