Great question, I had the same one when these guys started to feather out. You are right the feathers are very grey towards the skin. One of my Sizzle Cockerels is a dark grey. Also the hatch out very grey, mine just seem to be dark blue. I will be interested to see how the offspring color out. This is my first time with the blue gene. I hatched out the splash girls from eggs I purchased and they were mixed colors. I kept only the Splash and mated them to my Black Silkie. Pure Black Silkies will still show the iridescent sheen of green and purple especially in the tail and wings.
Kathleen, Thanks for the compliment, I love those buffs. I am still hoping one is a boy, consensus is both are girls but the comb on the darker one is a little bumpy. Just grasping for straws here, I need a buff Rooster so badly. Until she lays or crows, I will still hope.