Grey.Partridge? Silkiie Chicks

[marie_martin]

Here are progressive pics of the two grey silkies I hatched 8/3.

A few days old:

Starting to feather in:

Today (3 weeks old):

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Gorgeous! Do you sell Gray Silkie hatching eggs? I might want to get some from you this spring.

 

[marie_martin]

Thanks but I got these from Michelle at goldensunriseranch.
She is great. You should check with her.

Marie

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Do grays really look that much like partridge when they are born?

 

[marie_martin]

From what I understand, some can. I have seen pics of michelles greys and some do look like partridge as babies. But I don't know anything about genetics so I will let her explain if she does not mind.

Marie

 

[gumpsgirl]

They are just lovely!

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Hi! So far all mine have hatched as grey and are striped like partridge when born. These look a little browner in the wings than the ones I hatched do. I did some research and some believe whites are mostly partridge genes underneath the genes that produce the white and since I use a white roo I think it IS possible. Though everything I've hatched for myself from the same grey hens has not turned out that way. Grey and partridge are very similar genetically. So these might be the first chicks hatched from last year's grey pullet, which was out of a very silvery grey hen against a white roo, and she's now up against a different white roo this year. But if I want to improve their structure and crests the only way is to keep using them against my whites. And then I'll start selecting more for color.

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Here are some pics of greys I hatched earlier this year out of the same pen. They look a tad bit different. I'm thinking these newer babies of marie's don't have the silver gene that makes partridge become grey.

and as new hatched babies.

 

[coffeemama]

Cute marie! They look really partridge to me though-but I'm no silkie expert. They look just like my partridge chicks.

 

[marie_martin]

Either way is fine with me. I love them just the same. What color would I need to breed back to them to get the grey though?

Marie