Blacks Eye Color

[Schroeder]

I'm new to raising (LF) Blacks.  Six weeks ago I hatched out 8 chicks from a single pair breeding.  All of them have olive colored eyes.  Is this typical, with development towards bay at an older age, or are they all destined for the stewing pot?
Duane

[Russ Blair]

I have noticed that it does change older they get. By 6 mo you will know for sure on color. With Blacks I have found the bigger problem is leakage of black in the eye around the pupil is a bigger problem. Instead of being nice and round it tends to break up and extend into the rest of the eye.

[John W Blehm]

With Blacks I have found the bigger problem is leakage of black in the eye around the pupil

For sure, but now that so many other LF black traits have been brought up to the Standard, in the last several years we've made big improvements in their eye color and structure.  Egg color has also improved greatly. 

[Russ Blair]

I agree John of all the varieties Black is the Most solid for size & type. Remember Duane sometimes you just have to use the best of what you got also 😀

[Lee G]

Final eye colour is reached around the same time as sexual maturity.

With Blacks I have found the bigger problem is leakage of black in the eye around the pupil is a bigger problem. Instead of being nice and round it tends to break up and extend into the rest of the eye.

I've seen this firsthand too. Chicken eye colour is fascinating really...and a lot more complex than I first thought. But then isn't everything genetic. lol

There is a good summary in one of my genetic books that says chicken eye colour consists of the following: blood vessels (red, orange) or the visible absence; black pigment on the front/backside of iris, or absence; opaque layer which causes pearl eye; carotene in iris (orange/yellow) or absence; genes which inhibit black pigment on one or both sides of the iris; genes which inhibit pigment distribution (barred, mottled).

It goes on to say there are more factors playing a role than meets the eye, (har har) and some even counteract the above. Nothing simple here, that's for sure.