Will this Feather Grow in Black?

[FrankPrize]

My Phoenix cockerel is going through his second molt of the year and he’s just starting to have his main tail feathers come in. I noticed that two of his black tail feathers are coming in with white mottling throughout the feather. He’s a Black Breasted Red; if I were to pluck out the feathers, would they grow in black? I’m planning on showing him and I know that those white feathers will result in a lower placing.

 

[sawilliams]

Well, um no I don't believe they would grow back the color you are hoping for. I guess you could just pluck them before show and hope it isn't noticeable. But obviously he isn't show quality...

 

[Gray Farms]

Nope, they'll grown back the same color. He'll get points deducted in a show.

 

[FrankPrize]

Well, um no I don't believe they would grow back the color you are hoping for. I guess you could just pluck them before show and hope it isn't noticeable. But obviously he isn't show quality...

Nope, they'll grown back the same color. He'll get points deducted in a show.

I guess I’ll just put keep him in a breeding pen with a female that complements his faults. It’s unfortunate that he has these feathers growing in though— especially since I got him from a breeder with an excellent track record. I find it weird that they’re growing in white though— especially since they were black before his most recent molt.

 

[Sneebsey]

I usually find that black birds who show white tend to get more white as they grow older, whilst dominant white birds leaking black tend to get more black. I don't know as there's any genetic study been done on the phenomenon, just something I've observed. I assumed that the cause was hidden mottling genes for the black, though seeing your boy makes me reconsider this. He's a handsome boy nonetheless, and crossed to a good hen should produce some champions.

 

[FrankPrize]

I usually find that black birds who show white tend to get more white as they grow older, whilst dominant white birds leaking black tend to get more black. I don't know as there's any genetic study been done on the phenomenon, just something I've observed. I assumed that the cause was hidden mottling genes for the black, though seeing your boy makes me reconsider this. He's a handsome boy nonetheless, and crossed to a good hen should produce some champions.

Thank you! He really is a beauty and it’s possible that he may have mottling or spangled in him since he comes from older German lines and German Phoenixes tend to have Modern and OE Game in their ancestry as a means of improving type. He really is beautiful regardless of his minor faults and I’m sure he’ll produce some excellent offspring when the time comes— I’ll just be sure to hold back all the cockerels and wait a molt or two to select for birds that don’t have white bleeding through.

 

[Littleshadow]

He is beautiful! Sorry about the faults. I know that’s a bummer!
Did he end up loosing the white Mottled on his front wings?

 

[FrankPrize]

He is beautiful! Sorry about the faults. I know that’s a bummer!
Did he end up loosing the white Mottled on his front wings?

Yeah, he’s lost most of it but he still has a little white flecking going up his legs and some red flecking around his chest.