Is white or black dominant in silkies?

[magicpigeon]

For example, if I bred a white to a black, which would be the dominant gene? Does anybody have a list I can use? Thanks

 

[Illia]

Black isn't dominant or recessive, as a solid color it is just a "base," like duckwing, partridge, wheaten, brown-red/birchen, etc. Now, white on the other hand can both be dominant or recessive. I believe in Silkies it can be either though, but I'm not 100% sure. I know in some breeds like rocks it is always dominant, others like Ameraucanas it can vary, but Silkies. . . Someone else may know that.

But, as a rule - If you bred a black to a dominant white silkie, you get white silkies. If you bred black to a recessive white silkie - You get black silkies. In fact, you'll get black with whatever the recessive white may have been hiding, too. (barring, gold leakage, etc)

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
White Rocks and most White breeds are usually always RECESSIVE White, not Dominant, White Rocks were originally Recessive White sports out of Barred Rocks so they were White masking barring.

And White is also usually always recessive in silkies as well, thats why you can really never predict what you will get from crossing with White Silkies.

Cornish Cross birds, Most White Leghorns, Rhode Island Whites, and some of the White Gamefowl are really the only solid White breeds that are Dominant White.

 

[PremierSilkies]

I think it depends on the flock & genetics of the individual birds in that flock.
Personal experience for myself:
In 2010 I bred two of my white silkie cocks on the black silkie hens, 50% white, 25% part, 25% black.
The partridge turned out GORGOUS, lol

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
In that case then your Black hens would have been carrying one copy of Recessive White and I imagine your Whites may have been masking Partridge. Thats what you would get though breeding a White to a Split White, 50% White and 50% colored.

But yes it does depend on the genetic history of the recessive White Birds.

 

[magicpigeon]

Um, this will sound really stupid, but can you tell if they have dominant or recessive genes without waiting for them to breed and their chicks feathering up? I didn't think so but with chickens, anything's possible

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Quote:
No you can't. You'll have to breed them and see what you get.