Black Male Silkie Color Question

[SilkieCRZYness]

I see many black males with Silver or Gold leakage in the hackle feathers. Can someone explain why and why sometimes the black hackle feathers turn off color with age compared to having it when young? Thanks

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

A combination of a lack of melanizers (any birds) and testosterone (older birds).

 

[SilkieCRZYness]

Thank you! Is this vet common in black? Also are they pure blacks still just missing melanizers ?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Common in blacks and also in blues. Define "pure black." The e-allele makes a difference; with some fewer melanizers are needed than with others.

 

[SilkieCRZYness]

I like my blacks to be as dark as possible, with a green beetle sheen, I do not like coal black birds bred black to blue, that is my defined black.