Lavender (chicken plumage)
Encyclopedia
Lavender or Self-blue refers to a plumage
pattern in chickens characterized by a uniform, pale bluish grey color across all feather
s. The distinctive color is caused by the action of a recessive gene, commonly designated as "lav", which reduces the expression of eumelanin and phaeomelanin so that black coded areas of the plumage appear pale grey instead, and red coded areas appear a pale buff. (Crawford 1990, p. 139-140)
The uniform grey color described as Lavender is based genetically on a black colored bird; when the lav gene is expressed in a bird with red and black Mille Fleur plumage, the resulting cream and pale grey color scheme is called Porcelain.
in 1972, and verified in 1980 (Crawford 1990, p. 139-140). Porcelain colored d'Uccle bantams were around as early as early as 1909 (La Basse-Coeur du Nord 2008), though the Porcelain variety was not recognized by the APA
until 1964 (belgianduccle.org). Whether from the Porcelain d'Uccle or other, unknown sources, the lavender color has been introduced to a number of new chicken breeds over the years, including the Polish
and the Silkie.
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
pattern in chickens characterized by a uniform, pale bluish grey color across all feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s. The distinctive color is caused by the action of a recessive gene, commonly designated as "lav", which reduces the expression of eumelanin and phaeomelanin so that black coded areas of the plumage appear pale grey instead, and red coded areas appear a pale buff. (Crawford 1990, p. 139-140)
The uniform grey color described as Lavender is based genetically on a black colored bird; when the lav gene is expressed in a bird with red and black Mille Fleur plumage, the resulting cream and pale grey color scheme is called Porcelain.
History
The lavender gene was first discovered in the Porcelain variety of Belgian Bearded d'Uccle bantamsBelgian Bearded d'Uccle
The Belgian Bearded d'Uccle , or Barbu D'Uccle in French, is a breed of bantam chicken originating from the town of Uccle on the outskirts of Brussels, Belgium...
in 1972, and verified in 1980 (Crawford 1990, p. 139-140). Porcelain colored d'Uccle bantams were around as early as early as 1909 (La Basse-Coeur du Nord 2008), though the Porcelain variety was not recognized by the APA
APA
- Associations :* Aborigines Progressive Association, an Australian organization* All Peoples' Association , a British voluntary organization* Allied Pilots Association, the certified collective bargaining agent for American Airlines pilots...
until 1964 (belgianduccle.org). Whether from the Porcelain d'Uccle or other, unknown sources, the lavender color has been introduced to a number of new chicken breeds over the years, including the Polish
Polish (chicken)
The Polish is a European breed of chicken known for its crest of feathers. The English language name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands...
and the Silkie.