Blue and self blue question??????

[luvmychicknkids]

Well........I got my email from Ideal telling me it is almost time to place 2009 orders. While I REALLY wanted to hatch my own Silkie and La Fleche chicks I am planning to order a few to get me started. So, on the Silkies, I think I will order the white my son wants and a few colors. They have "blue" and they have "self blue". What is the difference and any opinions on what is prettier????

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Not sure about the silkies but from what I've seen, blues are darker than self blues. Self blues are more of a gray color. Hope that helps. www.feathersite.com has alot of pics of different breeds and colors.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Thanks.

You know, I use feathersite all the time but it seems I am never smart enough to direct myself there.....someone has to shove me in the right direction. LOL

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

I'm always going there to see what a particular breed that I'm not familiar with looks like. But everytime I go there I find another bunch of chickens I want. LOL

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Yes, it is NEVER safe to randomly browse chicken breeds!!!!!!

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
I know I've even made a list of chickens I want so I want forget them all

 

[luvmychicknkids]

LOL I am afraid I should do that....though it might do me some good to forget!!!!

 

[Kanchii]

Self blue, aka "Lavender" and blue are two completely different genes. If you breed them together you get black and blue that CARRY self blue.

Self blue is recessive, so you need two copies of the gene for it to show up. It is supposed to be a pale silvery blue, like my self blue d'anver here:

Blue is dominant. If you breed a blue to a black you get 50/50. Blue to blue is 25% black, 50% blue, and 25% splash. Splash is when you have two copies of the blue gene, and it's a lighter color with some dark feathers thrown in. Blue is darker than self blue, and the good blues have darker lacing around their feathers. In this pic you see a black, a splash, and a blue.

But as far as silkies go, if you get a lavander (aka self blue) it'll be similar to this:

where as blue will look like this:

 

[luvmychicknkids]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW that self blue Silkie is STUNNING!!!! Though I am sure a hatchery bird won't be anywhere near that pretty I think I will add one or two of those and see what I get.

Mine are just for eye candy anyway.

Thanks, kanchii.

 

[Kanchii]

Quote:
You are right in assuming a hatchery bird wont be near that pretty, both color, type, and feathering wise. But should be fine for eye candy!

And you're very welcome!