In the normal form of the Golden Mantle red covers the nape of the neck and extends to the upper breast. The cheek patches are white. Black feathers edged with golden yellow cover the back producing a pearling effect while the wing converts and tail are a bright blue. A green suffusion can be seen on the rump, abdomen and tail.
Hens are often slightly duller in color.
Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.
Golden Mantles are about 12 inches (30cm) long.
Sexing young birds can prove difficult and DNA sexing may be the only way to know for sure at a young age. However birds at least 9 months old can be visually sexed. In mature Golden Mantle hens of the normal form you can see a white striping under the wing feathers but this does not hold true when dealing with all the Golden Mantle mutations.
Hens are often slightly duller in color.
Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.
Golden Mantles are about 12 inches (30cm) long.
Sexing young birds can prove difficult and DNA sexing may be the only way to know for sure at a young age. However birds at least 9 months old can be visually sexed. In mature Golden Mantle hens of the normal form you can see a white striping under the wing feathers but this does not hold true when dealing with all the Golden Mantle mutations.
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