Are these slate legs? (new pics)

[TK Poultry]

Thats a barred bird I wouldn't think they would be true slate

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Thanks! I know, he is barred so he *can't* have slate legs. His are the slate-est not-slate legs/feet I've ever seen.
That's why I asked if the legs were slate before showing the whole bird. He hatched from my Barr-'Aucana project pen.

I copied/pasted from another thread/forum regarding slate legs and barring:

"... it has been demonstrated that the sex linked barring gene prevents dermal melanin, so would be shocked if your birds had slate legs. It is possible they have some dark pigment in the epidermis (outside layer of skin) but that is not the same as slate. ..." --- Mike Gilbert on the ABC Forum on a thread started by Anne Foley regarding Cuckoo Ameraucana projects

"...What you see is dark pigment in the epidermis. The males will not have this, or at least as much of it. This is no different than the pigment you would see in a barred rock pullet, except the epidermis also contains yellow...." --- Mike Gilbert on the ABC Forum on a thread started by Anne Foley who had some Cuckoo project Ameraucana LF.

"The Standard's range for shank color includes slate, dark slate, very dark slate and black. If you can get a barred, cuckoo or other variety to breed true for any type of true slate (from light to dark) or black shanks I would think you have a viable variety. "--- John Blehm on the same thread.

Cuckoo Am' thread

Lisa​

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
Cuckoo Am' thread

Lisa

Does it carry one copy for barring or two?
The first picture, whether by design or accident, shows very little of the white blotching. I know that young Ameraucana's feet and/or shanks are sometimes slow to color.............................. but also that the white Ameraucanas carrying a gene for mottleing or barring may have slate legs with white spots on the legs or feet to nearly pure white shanks as adults, which of course are problems at a show if the judge is awake. If the bird pictured has two copies for barring and those white blotches color up, you have a winner. Otherwise, the APA would have to make an exception for mottled or barred varieties of Ameraucamas inorder for such colors to be recognised within the breed.

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
Cuckoo Am' thread

Lisa

Those are quotes I gathered on the subject because I seriously considered doing it. Ann Foley and myself actually had a long conversation about it. I gave up and so did she because the ABC's stance on it is very clear. If you cannot have true slate legs it won't become a viable variety. Barred/Cuckoo are simple to have in any breed like Marans, Plymouth Rock, Orpington, d'Anver, d'Uccle, Silkie, and most other breeds have the color.

 

[Svarthona]

Beautiful bird! I really like the "slatebutnotslate" legs

And just to keep your bird some company a picture of one of my recent "it can't have dark legs, he's barred" birds.
Whatever color it is, his legs are a lot darker than mine are

the weird pale thing in the corner is my leg for color comparison.

 

[aveca]

Quote:
probably blue , id gene produces blue legs in some australorps and such. in thoe the legs start out darker and turn slate as the bird gets older due to barred breed in its ancestry