Anyone have pics of Cuckoo Silkie Chicks?

[chickenzoo]

I have a Cuckoo Silkie hen bred to a Black roo. What color should the chicks be..... I had some hatch but having trouble telling who's who... LOL

 

[NapoleanGoose]

I don't know if silkies are different, but the barred/cuckoo gene works as a sexlink when bred to other birds.
I hatched a ton of Australorp/Maran chicks about 7 wks ago. The male Barred or Cuckoo bird gets a double barred gene, so when a dominant black overrides one gene, the females are left with no barred gene and the males still have one left. So you'll get black pullets and barred roos.


Some things to look for when they are chicks

Roos will have yellow feet and beaks, be lighter colored, and feather out slower.
Pullets will have black or mostly black feet and beaks will be dark and they feather out faster


Picture: (roo on left hen on right)

 

[nzpouter]

cuckoo cockerels and black pullets.

the cockerel will hatch with a white-ish spot on top of their head.

 

[chickenzoo]

That's the thing..... I've not had a black chick hatch from them yet,,,,,, not sure what the other color is as they hatched out with other silkies..... LOL

 

[NapoleanGoose]

You may get some lighter pullets, closer to the roo color that I showed but you should watch for the legs. The feathering is usually a much better way to tell but I don't think that works with Silkies. And silkies should have dark legs anyways? I don't know. \\: