Silkie Genetics

[MichyA]

Hi everyone!

I’m in the beginning stages of starting up a Silkie breeding program to sell hatching eggs.

I currently have two very handsome bearded white Roos, 2 white hens, a partridge hen, a black hen and two blue hens.

I’m researching genetics and from my understanding... I can’t mix all of them together unless I want Silkie “mutts.” I only want to breed good quality recognized colors. With that being said...

What color hens can I can put in with my white roosters if I want good quality recognized colored Silkies? Black? Only white? Thanks in advance!

I’m adding some pictures of my handsome white Roos and a few of my pretty hens

 

[Amer]

White. If the whites are dominant white you can do black, but they are more likely to be recessive white, which can hide any color. I like your Partridge hen.

 

[MichyA]

White. If the whites are dominant white you can do black, but they are more likely to be recessive white, which can hide any color. I like your Partridge hen.

I see, thank you. If by chance my rooster was dominant white...he could mix with black? The last picture I posted has two brown chicks with my black hen, (not necessarily their real other since all eggs were mixed together) I’ve hatched some babies before for fun. I’m assuming the brown chicks were most likely a combo between the white rooster and either my black or brown Silkie hen. Does that give any indication of whether the white roosters are dominant or recessive. Below I’ll post a pic of their past babies...

I’m assuming the white chick is my white roo to my white hen, the black/white chick is maybe to my black hen and maybe the browns are my white Roos and a partridge? Is this a good assumption? If so, I know these babies are not true Silkie colors.

 

[Amer]

If by chance my rooster was dominant white...he could mix with black?

Looks like he’s recessive white, but yes, he could if he was. It would give you paint.
It looks like maybe your rooster is black beneath the white. Wait and see how the black chick matures. If it ends up being solid without leakage, then your rooster is black based.

 

[LynnaePB]

I agree with what you have now the whites together is the best way to go if setting up a standard color breeding program. This is assuming they are recessive white as most white silkies are.

If you really like the type of any of your other colored girls you can breed them to your white boys and breed the nicest offspring back to one of the white males. This should give you around 50% chicks that will be recessive white. These recessive white chicks should be able to go back into a recessive white breeding program without causing issues (I believe anyway). The great thing about recessive white is it is very good at covering up other colors when homozygous (heterozygous you can't visually tell it is there as it needs two copies to show).

 

[Amer]

I agree with what you have now the whites together is the best way to go if setting up a standard color breeding program. This is assuming they are recessive white as most white silkies are.

If you really like the type of any of your other colored girls you can breed them to your white boys and breed the nicest offspring back to one of the white males. This should give you around 50% chicks that will be recessive white. These recessive white chicks should be able to go back into a recessive white breeding program without causing issues (I believe anyway). The great thing about recessive white is it is very good at covering up other colors when homozygous (heterozygous you can't visually tell it is there as it needs two copies to show).

Nice paint in your avatar!

 

[MichyA]

I agree with what you have now the whites together is the best way to go if setting up a standard color breeding program. This is assuming they are recessive white as most white silkies are.

If you really like the type of any of your other colored girls you can breed them to your white boys and breed the nicest offspring back to one of the white males. This should give you around 50% chicks that will be recessive white. These recessive white chicks should be able to go back into a recessive white breeding program without causing issues (I believe anyway). The great thing about recessive white is it is very good at covering up other colors when homozygous (heterozygous you can't visually tell it is there as it needs two copies to show).

Thank you so much, that’s actually was very informative and I was able to follow it! Some of this genetic talk is very confusing. I have a lot to learn!

 

[LynnaePB]

Thank you so much, that’s actually was very informative and I was able to follow it! Some of this genetic talk is very confusing. I have a lot to learn!

I'm glad it was helpful!

I started my foundation flock for breeding about 2 years ago but I'm still learning too, it definitely does get confusing at times!

Your flock looks lovely, I hope they'll end up being a great start to your own breeding program!