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Dark color splashes in Wheaten variety down

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Holiday Hatch:
I tried to post this a few days ago but the photo was too large and I haven't figured out how to decrease the image size on this camera yet.  Last weekend some chicks hatched that should be Wheaten/Blue Wheaten or Splash Wheaten.  One of the chicks had about 4 tiny little splashes of very dark, almost black feathers on it's back.  I'm sure this isn't a good thing but could someone tell me what it might be from?  One of my Wheaten hens has black feathers in her hackles and I just learned at the Stockton, CA Poultry Show that this isn't desireable.  Maybe the chick is from one of her eggs?
One more question I have is about the little dark spot on top of the head on this variety.  I remember it being mentioned on the Forum and I think it's desireable but what does it mean?
I've been reading the Genetics Mini Series and some other sources to try and get a better understanding of chicken genetics but I've got a long way to go.  Thanks for the help.  Linda

Mike Gilbert:

  Those chicks with the small dark spots, if females, are likely to have better tail and wing color as adults.
   I would not worry about them.    Years ago the late judge John Wunderlich sent me an unsolicited shipment of eggs from a terrific line of wheaten Old English bantams.   The chicks all had those spots.  They developed into very nicely colored wheaten bantams, both males and females..

John:

--- Quote ---One of the chicks had about 4 tiny little splashes of very dark, almost black feathers on it's back.
--- End quote ---
Linda,

Take a look at the 2nd photo in reply #8 of this topic...
http://ameraucana.org/forum/index.php?topic=2028.0

I would be inclined to think your chick may be  eWh/e+ or eWh/eb.
A photo would be very helpful.   


--- Quote ---One more question I have is about the little dark spot on top of the head on this variety.  I remember it being mentioned on the Forum and I think it's desirable but what does it mean?
--- End quote ---
Yes, that is part of the phenotype of a wheaten chick.

Mike, I know you mention "spots".  Are you referring to what Linda called "splashes" on the chick's back or the "spot on top the head"? 

Mike Gilbert:
John, your photo of the silver/wheaten cross shows stripes, not spots.  I take splash to mean irregular spots, not stripes.   Maybe we need to see a photo of the chick(s) in question?   Either way, the O.E. chicks had spots on both their heads and their backs.

Holiday Hatch:
Here are some photos of the chick with the dark color splashes on it's back.  Let me know if the images aren't clear enough.  Thanks again.  Linda

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