casamber 60 Report post Posted November 13, 2012 I have 3 chicks around 5 weeks old and keep noticing that one looks different than the others. I couldnt figure out what it was until this morning while feeding them i noticed the tear marks. They dont start under the eye like my other birds, they start just behind the eye. And they are more of a crescent shape which i have only ever seen in birds split to black cheek. I have the parents, grandparents and great grandparents to this chick and never had a black cheek from any of them so im a bit lost on why this bird has these cheeks. Could it possibly have black cheek in there of just a fluke to have tear marks like this? Thanks. Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave.H 11 Report post Posted November 13, 2012 Highly likely just to be a good coloured normal cock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted November 13, 2012 Thanks Dave. Does that mean it's a good thing to have cheeks like this? Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norfolk flyer 208 Report post Posted November 13, 2012 Kerry, Yeah Daves right but don't rule out the BC gene as in Blackbreasted, Pied etc you can breed a long while and this gene can lay dormant over generations then all of a sudden out it will pop. to give you an example in my shed this yeay i paired a Blackbreasted male with a CFW hen had 3 broods and in the first brood they 4 young 3 grey and 1 grey Isabel why don't know, 2nd brood 4 greys, finally 3rd brood 3 greys and 2 grey isabels. The funny thing about this i do not have any grey isabels apart from which i've just bred. Just thought i would provide a little bit more info. Trevor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted November 14, 2012 Thanks Trevor. The funny thing is i actually have 2 black cheeks that just wont produce anything for me. The eggs are always fertile but never hatch Maybe i will split them up next year and try this chick with the BC hen. At least then i would know for sure if he has any BC in him. Thanks again! Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Finch 2 Report post Posted February 14, 2013 your chick is a confirm split to black cheek. it must be an adult now, please share with us , what did it turn out to be? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted February 14, 2013 She turned out to be a really nice looking hen. I will get a picture soon and post it here. I havn't bred her yet as she is still a little too young for my liking but she is laying eggs on a regular basis so im thinking of pairing her up soon. Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted April 7, 2013 Here is a picture of the hen now. I havn't had any chicks from her yet and have no black cheek cocks to pair her with yet so still none the wiser. Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
