Dark egg laying silkies?

[luckiestck1]

Hi
I was wondering if it is possible to selectively breed silkies to darker eggs
Without crossing in another breed of chickens.

 

[MattCopeland]

I've only seen/had silkies that lay small cream colored eggs. I don't think it would be possible without adding a different breed

 

[luckiestck1]

I think they can lay light brown eggs.
I was thinking of only hatching out chicks from darker eggs that way i get a chick with those genes?
And every gen pick for darker eggs.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I think they can lay light brown eggs.
I was thinking of only hatching out chicks from darker eggs that way i get a chick with those genes?
And every gen pick for darker eggs.

If the gene doesn't exist in the population, it's impossible to add it except by breeding in another breed or by waiting (for a very long time) for mutations. Qualitative genetics will only get you so far unless you have a hundred year breeding scheme planned out.

EDT: I mean it's always possible to breed for a trait--but I think that the closest you'll get with only silkies is maybe a darker cream egg.

 

[SilkiesInSuburb]

To get a "silkie" with a darker egg, you would have to breed it with a chicken that lays dark eggs. The only colors their eggs come in are pink-cream and cream.
If you want a dark brown egg, marans chickens are a popular choice.