Black silkies

[Sonoran Silkies]

Does white dilute the black gene? I was thinking of adding a white hen with excellent foot feathering.

No, white is an off switch, not a diluter. It hides all other colour and pattern genes that are present in the bird. Breeding to a white is likely to give you a big mess if you are trying to breed solid coloured black and chocolate birds.

 

[moomoodiddy]

Does white dilute the black gene?  I was thinking of adding a white hen with excellent foot feathering.

not that i am aware of but it does throw youre quality off u want a pure black line

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: At the cellular level, recessive white prevents the creation of all feather pigment. Dominant white does not prevent pigment from being made, but it prevents black pigment from being placed in the feathers.

Dilution genes (blue, choc, dun, lavender) chemically alter and/or reduce the amount of pigment placed in the feathers.

 

[jnjmanning]

Trust me I am not using any whites in my chocolate project! I have a 2nd source of chocolate eggs. Just waiting now on my last batch to hatch and my 1st batch of babies to grow!!! Should have eggs by Spring!

 

[liljunie]

Thank you for the genetics lesson! There is so much to learn!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Trust me I am not using any whites in my chocolate project! I have a 2nd source of chocolate eggs. Just waiting now on my last batch to hatch and my 1st batch of babies to grow!!! Should have eggs by Spring!

Really? From a different import? And are you sure they are choc, not dun?

 

[jnjmanning]

Really? From a different import? And are you sure they are choc, not dun?

Yes, mine came from a bantam orpington, these came from a chocolate serama.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: With serama, could be dun, choc or both.
You need to ask questions about how the colour breeds to be sure they are choc. (Unless you want to add dun to the mix).

 

[jnjmanning]

With serama, could be dun, choc or both.
You need to ask questions about how the colour breeds to be sure they are choc. (Unless you want to add dun to the mix).

Thanks! I made sure that was the first thing I asked her. And it was chocolate, not dun or khaki. And no I am not wanting to add dun. Not at this time...lol I have my hands full as it is!

 

[moomoodiddy]

At the cellular level, recessive white prevents the creation of all feather pigment.  Dominant white does not prevent pigment from being made, but it prevents black pigment from being placed in the feathers.

Dilution genes (blue, choc, dun, lavender) chemically alter and/or reduce the amount of pigment placed in the feathers.

wait im confused... so youre saying recessive white is dominant and dominant white is recesive except for black?