Young Black Cochin Roo Graying?

[dawny2u2]

I have two bantam Black Cochin roosters, 7 months old, and one, the one who was most aggressive, is turning gray. As you can see in the picture, he also has white tufts by his ears. (If their ears are where one would expect ears to be) I don't know if he is sick, his behavior is normal, other than he used to be quite bossy, and now he is a pleasant member of the flock.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Maybe he's birchen? I think it would have showed up sooner though.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

He is lacking melanizers. This tends to show up in older birds rather than initially. Birchen whould also show silver in the saddle and lacing on the breast. The ABA standard calls silver in the hackles a DQ in a cockerel and a fault in a cock.

edited for clarity

 

[dawny2u2]

Thanks! Learn new info every day here.

 

[iluvmychicks]

He could be carrying mottled, they have a white V tipped feather on the hackle and through out the body. Do you have a picture of the body??

Here's an example of a mottled male.

Shari