why is my hen getting white feathers

[ChickNanny13]

The RIRs I had did develop a few black tail feathers but then it was easier to tell them apart

 

[lomine]

Thanks @Ravynscroft. Glad my brain isn’t making things up.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thanks @Ravynscroft. Glad my brain isn’t making things up.

Very welcome... and nope, it's not...

 

[lissalischicks]

@Teila I have that with on her of my girls. But she was supposed to be a mottled Orpington. When she was a chick she had white And black but then she just changed to all black. She just went through her 1st molt and she sort of looks like your girl with the black feathers and white tips. I just figured it was because she was supposed to be mottled

 

[autosuf]

I never knew there was a Rhode island white . they look similar to leghorns. They dont even look like the reds.

There are many thousands of Rhode Island White hens, they are the same and of the same breed as the red ones.
No relation to the white Leghorn layers that are of Mediterranean race with white ears and white eggs.
Rhode Island White was developed by the genetics companies and is the mother of all Brown layers with white feathers on the tail and neck.
Daughters of a selected paternal line of Rhode Island Red and a selected maternal line of Rhode Island White.
They are purebred Rhode Island but of different colors.

The appearance of white feathers is common in all birds.
If you look we can see some sparrow with some white feather.

The judges in the exhibitions usually check if the animal they are prosecuting is missing a feather, a sign that they have been torn off before presenting it to the exhibition.

It can be a genetic problem, but not necessarily.
It can also be a punctual problem, like a scare, when that feather was developed.

 

[chickenmama109]

Thanks every one yes my rirs hey black tips on there tail feathers but the white feathers are just no red all white I got them last year at tsc I have a couple rirs and none of the others are getting white lol thanks for all of y’all help really appreciate it I will post photos later thanks every one

 

[Growingthehome]

Yes, black feathers damaged or plucked out violently can grow back white, or partially white... actually, this can happen in any feather color... and in chickens, ducks, geese, etc...

Some just get whiter as they age as well... Cayuga ducks are well known for going 'white' as they get older...

Just found this. It is true! My chickens got attacked by a dog. The two got hurt ( road island red and partridge Plymouth rock) have a single white feather where they lost ones from the dog.