Dark Factor

[robbo78]

Hi I did ask this question within someone elses thread but got no response so thought I would start my own, the question was some chicks have a black beak on hatching and I have heard that these birds were either greys or grey/greens or even cobalts so is the black beak a sign of the dark factor?? or just coincidence

[rachel]

Hi Robbo, I think the black beak is to do with melanin. I've had sky, cobalt's, light greens, dark greens, greys and grey greens with and without the black beak .

[ianb]

Don't know about anyone else,but i find most fo the dark beaked youngsters turn out to be cocks.

[Bonesy]

I've had lots of black beaks in various colours and sexes.

It's usually a trait of Exhibition blood birds, the more English gene the darker the beak seems to run, yet pet types I notice rarely have it unless they have English ancestry.

Soph.

[robbo78]

just qiuck update and sorry i aint been around for a while the chick i was talking about here with the black beak his dad was actually an exhibit bird and mum pet type so that clears that up cheers