Before college I raised a small flock of chickens that live at my parents house. One is a very sweet mottled houdan named Poe. Poe was black with some scattered white feathers, which is normal for a houdan, but during this molt, every feather she lost is coming back white! So now the black chicken is mostly white! has anyone else ever had this happen?

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), November 16, 2001

Answers

unless you scared Poe real bad,, the feather should turn black like they are supposed too

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 16, 2001.

You sure she is not real old in chicken years and it is not white you think you see but chicken grey :)

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), November 16, 2001.

LOL! No defintely not chicken grey, she's only about 2 years old.

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), November 16, 2001.

Shouldn't happen. Any way she might have picked up some systemic poison (say a pesticide or herbicide)?

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 16, 2001.

Elizabeth, Many black chickens and ducks start getting more and more white feathers as they get older. Now "older" in chickens and ducks is over a year old in the show ring. You can get some genetics on this if you post on(I get tired of typing this, you guys must get tired of reading it...LOL ) The Poultry Connection, Leghorn Forum, where the experts are. They will be glad to help. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 16, 2001.