Curious about what this color EE is called

[Holdthechicken]

The chicken in the first post is not a Silkie.
She does not have the fluffy feathers that Silkies are known for. She is also missing feathered feet, an extra toe on each foot, a crest on the head, and black skin.



Blue and Lavender are caused by different genes.
"Self Blue" usually means the lavender gene.

I think this hen probably has the blue gene, because of the lacing (dark edges) on the feathers, especially by her head.


Blue is caused by the "Blue" gene. One copy of the gene turns all black on the chicken to blue. Two copies of the gene makes a Splash chicken (white or very light gray, with splashes of black or dark blue.) Blue only affects black, not red. It is possible to have a Blue Laced Red chicken (red feathers, with blue "lacing" on the edges of the feathers.) When a chicken would be solid black, the blue gene usually dilutes the middle of the feathers more than the edges, so the chicken looks blue (gray) with black lacing (edges of feathers.)

Lavender is a different gene. It is recessive, so a chicken must have two copies of the gene to show any effects. The lavender gene affects both black and red pigments. While blue can make a "blue laced red" chicken, lavender can make a lavender laced yellow chicken (black to lavender, red to a pale yellow shade.) On a chicken that would otherwise be solid black, lavender makes a solid gray shade, but does not leave dark edges on the feathers.

At one point, lavender was called "self blue," because it caused a "blue" color (gray), and the chicken was "self colored" (solid, with no lacing or other patterns.) The Blue gene is sometimes called "Andalusian Blue" to distinguish it (because it's well known for causing the laced blue in the Blue Andalusian breed.) At present, it's more common to just say "blue" an "lavender" instead of calling them different kinds of blue.

Thanks so much for sharing in such great detail. This stuff is fascinating.