The Blues as a color, with some basic discription and pictures. - Page 3

you open a Can of Worms buddy...

Self-blue is a bit confusing to me because on some breeds it's refered to as Lavender, but in others it's just called Self-blue. To add to the can of worms there, what's the difference? Is there actually a difference, or is it just a matter of preference?

Lavender is just a Gene.... Self Blue is a Phenotype.. a self blue bird should be THAT.. a bird that is entirely blue, no lacing no other color... just as much as Self buff bird should be all buff..

Lavender does NOT dilute Red to a Buff color... that's Dominant Dilute, lavender does dilute red but the dilution is much much stronger than recessive cream(ig) or Dominant Dilute(Di), intersting enough it dilutes Buff to a Peachy color.. we are ALL waiting to see what it does to a rich Red color ala RIR...

So Self-Blue and Lavender are actually 2 separate genes? That's exactly what was confusing me! I thought that Self-Blue was just a term used to describe a bird that had two copies of the Lavender gene. Now, I have another question. Is it possible for a bird to carry both Blue and Lavender genes?

I'm not sure that makes any sense, but I have some standard cochins I ordered from a lemon-blue project, and one of them looks like he has what I would call lavender in some of his feathers, and he's a very light buff color. All the other birds are darker than him: blacks, blue, splash and dark blue-buff combos, one that looks similar to a brown red, and one almost solid dark buff. Where did this guy come from? What kind of genetics are at work in his coloring, or is it possible to even tell just by looking? I love his coloring, and I've been trying to figure out where it came from and if I could replicate it.

He has a very light blue on his back with some light buff lacing. It looks almost white in the pics, but it actually looks lavender in person.

I now know that the last variety to expect from him is a Lavender.  I sorta like the Cuckoo in this Blue.  Wasn't out to make one.  But like you said there are oodles of genetic possibilities with this cock.  And That makes 2 cocks I have who throw many many neat looking birds.

Chris sorry if I side tracked off of Self blue.  I was interested in what you two thought of this birds and his dad.  thanl you for the enlightening replies.

NO..

Self blue is a Phenotype(which is genetic word for how a bird look but two birds can look almost identical but share different genotype, wich is another genetic word for the birds genetic make up)

Yes, I believe Sonoran silkies have them but let me see if I can find pics of them, they look more blue than lavender..

Blue, can Dilute red pigment to a Buffish cream color, but I believe the cause of this is because of extra genes at play,

Below chick is Er/ewh dad as a Dark Brown OEG and mom a Buff cochin,

on this pic he was not showing ground color(red pigment)


after 2 weeks

he looks like heterozygous for dominant white..