Black silkies

[kasey08]

Thanks. So if you breed blacks from BBS will it become pure blacks? Will it toss out a blue?

 

[TK Poultry]

black to black will always yeild black no matter whether its from a Blue Blue mating or a black blue mating.

 

[JenEric Farms]

No, if that happens it's likely that someone mistook a really dark blue as a black. Black x Black = Black (no matter what the original mating was that created that black)

 

[JenEric Farms]

You beat me to it TK!

 

[destiny_56085]

Had the camera out in the barn today.... Alot of my hens are bald right now and my main rooster is missing his beard. These are black on black matings only.... Working with 27 hens/pullets and 3 cocks/cockerels in this color. ~Amy

 

[kasey08]

Very pretty. Why does the roo have a green tint in the tail? Is that how you tell if they are pure?

 

[destiny_56085]

You want the emerald green to show up. If I were to take any of them out in the sunlight it would be apparent all over the bird. It actually a fault if they reflect purple.... You can see it on him because he does have a few semi-hard feathers in the cushion. Paired with these girls, its not been a trait that he's been throwing though.

 

[kasey08]

They are so pretty.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
To add to what you wrote the green color you are seeing is called 'sheen'. Black silkies should have a green sheen, if any sheen is present, instead of a blueish or purplish color.
In fact, all black birds should have this. In the new SOP on page 34 it stated, "PLUMAGE: surface-- lustrous greenish black"

 

[Skittlez]

I have been following this thread and I love all the good info. My daughter is just starting with the silkies and I picked her up a black rooster yesterday. I was looking for opinions on his type and color. I know he is not show quality, but I am hopeing he is not worthless. He will be in with a black bearded hen, a white bearded hen, a partridge bearded hen and a blue frizzle cochin/silkie cross. Also, are is feet correct? He looks more brown in the photo than in real life. His top knot has been plucked, so it does not look right. His tail has been chewed on also. Hopefully after molt he will look much better. Is his comb right?

body shot outside

feet

comb

tail

wing

other side body outside

black hen

black hen again



The body shots look different because of the sun. The darker photo is more true. I tried to get a good photo of his green sheen, but the lighting wouldn't work for me. He does have 1 purpleish (is that even a word?) feather.

All the pictures of the black silkies are so beautiful, everyone has such nice birds!


Edited to add pics of hen.