Is he still black ?

[Chicksnmind]

I’ve asked this before but now he’s older. Also his comb is two different colors. Is that normal? It used to be all dark purple.

So far he’s been a good boy and has kept his distance unlike my tiny d uccle Roo.

 

[Kessel23]

He looks a little blue. Red leakage on the comb and waddles is not uncommon in silkies, you would not want to breed him if your goal was to get show quaility birds though.

 

[Amer]

He is blue. He does not meet the breed standard, explaining his red comb.

 

[BlackHackle]

View attachment 1493923 I’ve asked this before but now he’s older. Also his comb is two different colors. Is that normal? It used to be all dark purple.

So far he’s been a good boy and has kept his distance unlike my tiny d uccle Roo.

He has actually been crossed, the crown color is a slight sign, but more of the complete feathers on his wings and tail.
"Silkies are covered in down from head to toe, with no actual feathers on any part of them" ~ Sebastianelli

 

[Amer]

He has actually been crossed, the crown color is a slight sign, but more of the complete feathers on his wings and tail.
"Silkies are covered in down from head to toe, with no actual feathers on any part of them" ~ Sebastianelli

Or he could be just a off standard example from a hatchery. Some of the Silkies make me feel confused at how something so straightforward as small size, fluffy, and dark skin as the only consistency to consider it a Silkie (there are other defining traits, but they should be easy to get without work) can not be retained.

 

[BlackHackle]

Or he could be just a poor example from a hatchery. Some of the Silkies make me feel confused at how something so straightforward as small size, fluffy, and dark skin as the only consistency to consider it a Silkie (there are other defining traits, but they should be easy to get without work) can not be retained.

It's cause those dadgum hatcheries cross their birds with more productive breeds so people buy more. They know no one wants to order laying hens that barely lay. They do it with the RIR's, the Buff Orpingtons, the Black Australorps. I'm sure people won't agree with me on this, but from what I've played with over the last 10 years, the bad shapes and colors they get are the results of crossings

 

[Chicksnmind]

Well that explains it. He’s so much bigger than my silkie girl. He’s about the same size as my EE. Both are from the same hatchery yet are very different.

Here’s my girl. She looks big in this picture but she isn’t. She almost as small as my d uccle girl except she stands more upright. Looking at her closely she looks like she may feathers at the end of her wings too. Will double check tomorrow.

 

[Amer]

Well that explains it. He’s so much bigger than my silkie girl. He’s about the same size as my EE. Both are from the same hatchery yet are very different.

Here’s my girl. She looks big in this picture but she isn’t. She almost as small as my d uccle girl except she stands more upright. Looking at her closely she looks like she may feathers at the end of her wings too. Will double check tomorrow.View attachment 1496891

What a cute, clean white Silkie.

 

[varidgerunner]

It's cause those dadgum hatcheries cross their birds with more productive breeds so people buy more. They know no one wants to order laying hens that barely lay. They do it with the RIR's, the Buff Orpingtons, the Black Australorps. I'm sure people won't agree with me on this, but from what I've played with over the last 10 years, the bad shapes and colors they get are the results of crossings

I agree with you. Might as well mix up some leghorns and RIR and call the breed "hatchery chicken" and then offer them in every comb pattern, feathering option, and color pattern that there is. This would be a more accurate description of what they are.

 

[BlackHackle]

I agree with you. Might as well mix up some leghorns and RIR and call the breed "hatchery chicken" and then offer them in every comb pattern, feathering option, and color pattern that there is. This would be a more accurate description of what they are.

Glad you agree. I mean, how on earth did the lame little buff orps the hatcheries sell come from a solid line of the huge Buff Orpingtons?