Breeding silkies

[niazai_thechickenlife]

We're looking for our first rooster but I haven't found any info on what colour to get.
Chatgpt tells me anything other than blue will give leakage.
But i have my eye set on one of these beauties:

Our flock is now buff, 2 splash silkies and 1 that i'm going to assume is blue and not black (since she has a lighter greyish undertone).
Would one of these rooster be a good match to get cute offspring?
I'm basing this choice on the fact that they are all fluffy (which is what we want), bearded and have good character.

Any advice is much appreciated!

A.N.

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

We're looking for our first rooster but I haven't found any info on what colour to get.
Chatgpt tells me anything other than blue will give leakage.
But i have my eye set on one of these beauties:

View attachment 4228163

Our flock is now buff, 2 splash silkies and 1 that i'm going to assume is blue and not black (since she has a lighter greyish undertone).
Would one of these rooster be a good match to get cute offspring?
I'm basing this choice on the fact that they are all fluffy (which is what we want), bearded and have good character.

Any advice is much appreciated!

A.N.

Also what colour would these officially be called? if they're even the same colour..

 

[BoundlessLove]

These are great questions. I’ve not experience with silkies, but will tag someone else.
@Debbie292d raises silkies, so let’s ask for help.

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm not sure where the ChatGPT got that info that other than blue, they'll all have leakage. I do have leakage issues, but that's on one rooster and one hen out of around 30 (60 counting the chicks). I would get rid of any other with leakage so I can keep whichever color line clean, except that in both cases, I kept them as they are so beautiful! Sometimes, it's just not all about SOP and APA; it's about beauty.

Since you say they all look pretty similar, see if any have feathers on all of their four front-facing toes. Many don't and you can't tell without looking. Otherwise, check the wings and see if one has shorter feathers, closer to their body, and not long wing tips. Those are two SOP traits you'd look for, but if you don't see either, that doesn't mean they aren't fine birds. It's just what I would look for, for breeder birds.

They could be mauve, but I'm leaning chocolate.

This thread is about color genetics for orpingtons, but it works identically for silkies. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-color-genetics.1219858/page-2#post-19511066

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

I'm not sure where the ChatGPT got that info that other than blue, they'll all have leakage. I do have leakage issues, but that's on one rooster and one hen out of around 30 (60 counting the chicks). I would get rid of any other with leakage so I can keep whichever color line clean, except that in both cases, I kept them as they are so beautiful! Sometimes, it's just not all about SOP and APA; it's about beauty.

Since you say they all look pretty similar, see if any have feathers on all of their four front-facing toes. Many don't and you can't tell without looking. Otherwise, check the wings and see if one has shorter feathers, closer to their body, and not long wing tips. Those are two SOP traits you'd look for, but if you don't see either, that doesn't mean they aren't fine birds. It's just what I would look for, for breeder birds.

They could be mauve, but I'm leaning chocolate.

This thread is about color genetics for orpingtons, but it works identically for silkies. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-color-genetics.1219858/page-2#post-19511066

Thanks debbie!!
We actually found a rooster today, picking him up on friday. He’s a dark chocolate, gorgeous roo.
We’re gettint 2 extra girls for him as well since they’ll be separated from the flock for at least 2 weeks before putting them together.
I’m so excited!