The strange case of the fading hen - Angélique turns from black to white.

Before we went away back to Scotland in June of this year, I noticed that one of my hens, Angélique, had dramatic pigment loss to her feathers. Although since 2017 this had been an on-going process, suddenly now, in the intensity of this year's Summer sun, the colour seemed to be fading or draining from her plumage. I have quite a few black hens and as they all live a harmonious life up in the bay tree and are a very organised group, I tend to see them as just that. However, I do recognise their different characteristics and personalities but I am more likely to seek out an individual when something is wrong. I also have to admit that Angelique is or I should say was, easily confused with her sister Elvira, with the exception of Angélique's white speckled grey/black ear covers. Elvira has entirely black ear covers and smaller white ear lobes.

Me and my Shadow...Angélique and her sister Elvira

In the first image above taken on the 3rd of July, 2015, you can see Angélique (foreground) is beginning to get individual white spots on her crest and on the top of her head. Later Elvira (left)  developed a striking white 'Mallen Streak' at the back of her crest à la Bride of Frankenstein. This phenomenon I will return to later when we look at the genetic link to depigmentation. However, (below) by the 4th of November, 2018, things have changed somewhat!

So, my aim in the following article is to map the progression of this condition and also muse and/or speculate on some of its causes.

Angélique is a very private and shy hen so much of the photographic evidence before the condition became quite so dramatic are from screenshots where she has been in the background of the shot or just passing through. Some of them have the appearance of CCTV but hopefully they show enough to make good documentary evidence of the progression:

January 23rd, 2017 - Here you can make out in the dappling of the light of the beech hedge, spotting to her back and a very definite golden rust colour to her wing, as shown up in the sunlight. By February 7th, 2017 (below) the pigment loss has become slightly more visible but it is still quite subtle mainly on the breast and back.

This screenshot which was from a film of the 3rd June 2018, shows quite a contrast between the colours. The feathers still look as if they were actual pigments rather than a lack of them! However by the 18th of June, the colours have changed to look more faded. This year we had a very hot Summer and  as with human hair, UV light bleaches fathers so would add to the condition. However her crest shows she is laying and apart from her paler facial skin and legs she looks in general good health.

The 11th of September 2018 and we are still having glorious hot Summer days and Angélique is still losing pigment. The golden colour that was quite bright before and which started on her wing back in 2017 is now itself beginning to fade to beige flecked white and she has ever more pigment loss on her back and neck. Her crest is still black with just those little white flecks that she had back in 2015. In September, 2018, most of my birds are going off lay and into moult due to the elevated temperatures. I am presuming this may also exacerbate the depigmentation in her feathers. Despite what is happening she is eating well and seems quite happy.

The above photograph taken on the 7th of October, 2018 shows that her back is now virtually completely white and her crest now finally is beginning to depigment. Perhaps more clearly than in all the previous photographs you can now see her Sebright ancestry with her wings worn in the classic Sebright belligerent manner. In fact as I recall taking this image, I believe she has just attempted to peck Matilda, the black hen! There seems to be nothing wrong with her spirit! Her comb has shrunk to its 'off lay' mode.

Above left - By the 20th of October, 2018 more pigment has been lost and her crest is the antithesis of where it started, now being white with just a few black flecks.

Above right - Five days later, 25th of October  even more pigment has disappeared.

Below is another image from the 4th of November, 2018 showing the sisters together with Elvira still sporting the same Mallen Streak which is still her only manifestation of the condition.

Finally here's the photograph I took on the 29th of November, showing Angélique to be almost completely white including her beak.

A Brief Resumé of Melanin Pigments & Black Plumage

Melanin is responsible for the earth tones in birds plumage, the two variants, created in the melanocytes and usually quoted in relation to birds feathers are eumelanin and phaeomelanin the former is responsible for black, grey and brown shades and the latter for the rusty reds. However, in most species of bird the feather tone is created by both melanins but it is the concentrations and distribution of each that determine the final colouration of the bird's plumage.

So What Can Go Wrong?

Amongst the factors (and combinations thereof) which can lead to a diminution of pigments and/or a  disruption to the pathways by which the latter are deposited into the feathers are:

• genetics
• diet
• environment 
• behaviour
• trauma
• aging
• disease 
• toxins

..and now here's the film

In the next article I will look at each of the above in relation to my hen and at the controversy surrounding the various conditions associated with depigmentation. I will also draw conclusions as to why I believe Angélique has changed from a beautiful black hen to an equally lovely white one.

Thanks for dropping by and do feel free to share experiences or ask for further information in the comment section. If you have enjoyed this piece and found it useful think about sharing it with your family and friends, on social media and also maybe about joining this blog and/or subscribing to my Youtube channel or even supporting us on Patreon or It all helps to keep me going!

Until next time, all the very best from Normandie! Sue

© 2018 Sue Cross

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