There seems to be some mystery or debate about this question. I'm wondering if anyone here might have more information. I have White Layers and whatever you'd call the offspring of White Layers (since hybrids don't breed true I know they're technically not White Layer Hybrids). The girls are usually very white. However, after they have a good molt and have a break from laying, their new feathers come in slightly yellow. They look kind of like buttered popcorn.
The "why" is the confusing part. I've read that white birds' feathers can get a yellow tint if they're eating "too much" corn, or leafy greens. Basically foods that are high in Xanthophylls. Xanthophylls also give their beaks, feet and egg yolks that nice dark yellow. I've read that xanthophylls are responsible for the yellow coloring in all types of birds. My girls don't eat a lot of corn but they do love greens - they get a nice romaine lettuce salad every day with cucumber (skins included) and bok choy. Since xanthophylls are responsible for the yellow coloring in other birds feathers, and also give the yellow coloring to ducks' beaks, feet and skin, it seems logical that xanthophylls would cause white ducks to get a yellow tint right?
The confusion comes from a friend who says she knows everything about ducks (as she has one). She says this information about xanthophylls is not at all true. Xanthophylls give yellow coloring to beaks, feet and skin but not feathers. She says that the yellow tint is from the duck's oil and is a sign that the duck needs to be bathed with Dawn. She says yellow feathers on an adult duck are a sign that the duck isn't healthy.
Her theory doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Why would new feathers absorb so much oil that they'd turn yellow and be unhealthy? Also, why are xanthophylls responsible for the yellow coloring of all other parts of the duck, and for yellow feathers on all other birds, but not ducks?
Any ideas? I'm 99% sure she's not correct but don't have any proof...other than all the websites I've seen that say dark green veggies that are high in xanthophylls can cause feathers to have a yellow tint. (Also, when my girls start laying again their yellow feathers fade back to white.) I haven't been able to find anything that supports her statement (not theory because she knows everything) that the yellow is from oils and is unhealthy. I'm not really looking for a "told you so" with her, just tired of her telling me my ducks look unhealthy because their feathers have a slight yellow tint.
The "why" is the confusing part. I've read that white birds' feathers can get a yellow tint if they're eating "too much" corn, or leafy greens. Basically foods that are high in Xanthophylls. Xanthophylls also give their beaks, feet and egg yolks that nice dark yellow. I've read that xanthophylls are responsible for the yellow coloring in all types of birds. My girls don't eat a lot of corn but they do love greens - they get a nice romaine lettuce salad every day with cucumber (skins included) and bok choy. Since xanthophylls are responsible for the yellow coloring in other birds feathers, and also give the yellow coloring to ducks' beaks, feet and skin, it seems logical that xanthophylls would cause white ducks to get a yellow tint right?
The confusion comes from a friend who says she knows everything about ducks (as she has one). She says this information about xanthophylls is not at all true. Xanthophylls give yellow coloring to beaks, feet and skin but not feathers. She says that the yellow tint is from the duck's oil and is a sign that the duck needs to be bathed with Dawn. She says yellow feathers on an adult duck are a sign that the duck isn't healthy.
Her theory doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Why would new feathers absorb so much oil that they'd turn yellow and be unhealthy? Also, why are xanthophylls responsible for the yellow coloring of all other parts of the duck, and for yellow feathers on all other birds, but not ducks?
Any ideas? I'm 99% sure she's not correct but don't have any proof...other than all the websites I've seen that say dark green veggies that are high in xanthophylls can cause feathers to have a yellow tint. (Also, when my girls start laying again their yellow feathers fade back to white.) I haven't been able to find anything that supports her statement (not theory because she knows everything) that the yellow is from oils and is unhealthy. I'm not really looking for a "told you so" with her, just tired of her telling me my ducks look unhealthy because their feathers have a slight yellow tint.