Swirling Hackle Feathers

[Holiday Hatch]

I have two Ameraucanas with hackle feathers that swirl around to one side.   It reminds me of a cow lick in peoples hair.  One of them is a cross beek Wheaten pullet from last years hatch of purchased eggs.  The other is a young Wheaten cockerel from some of my eggs this year.  They aren't related.  I don't use the cross beek's eggs for hatching, of course.  I'm culling the cockerel.  Can anyone enlighten me on this feather pattern?  Thank you - Linda

[Sharon Yorks]

Without seeing a picture, I'm not sure what your birds look like, but here is a link (I hope it works) to a post a while back about something that may be similar to what you are describing: http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=1690.msg11204#msg11204  If for some reason the link doesn't work, type, "Farrah Fawcett Hackles" into the search bar. Post a picture of your birds. I'd love to see them.

[far149]

This showed up in one of my Lavender bantam hens immediately before her first moult. I had several young birds exhibit this trait at about 12 weeks of age this year. All have been culled.