Lavender hen with white rooster....what are odds of lavender chicks?

[kathie grey]

I am not sure of the white rooster's background...but if bred to a lavender hen....what are the chances of getting lavender chicks? I've seen charts with other colors. It not white.
Thanks!

 

[Blackberry18]

Assuming the cock is pure-bred (maybe White Rock or such), and the white gene was dominant, if you crossed a lavender hen (ll) with a white cock (WW), chances are that you'd get white chicks that carry a lavender gene (Wl). Cross the male chicks with the lavender female, and you'd get 50% white chicks and 50% lavender. This is my theory, but it all depends on the heritage and genetics of the parents. Good luck!

 

[kathie grey]

So with chickens....it is ok to do breed parent to child? I had taken care not to do this. I made sure my rooster is not related to any of the hens he is penned with.

 

[Blackberry18]

So with chickens....it is ok to do breed parent to child? I had taken care not to do this. I made sure my rooster is not related to any of the hens he is penned with.

Yes it is all right. Inbreeding, if done consistently, can give disqualifications and not up-to-standard traits in the offspring, but in minor cases, it can be positive, sometimes the offspring will be relatively shy or quiet.

 

[Blackberry18]

You could also cross the offspring together and get 25% pure white (WW), 50% white with lavender gene (Wl), and 25% pure lavender (ll).

 

[kathie grey]

THANKS for the info!!! My silkies are just pets. I don't show. I was concerned from a health perspective. I want them to live long, happy lives. I sell to people that want beautiful pets...so I wouldn't want to do anything to cause them or myself heartbreak. I was going to buy eggs from someone that was breeding the white to a lavender. I actually just got 4 lavenders in my hatch and I don't have any lavender chickens! I knew the babies I hatched last year might carry the lavender gene but had no idea my rooster carried it as well. Very pleasant surprise So...looking for some new lavender blood to breed to mine. If I can't find an un-related lavender chick or eggs...I might try the brother to sister mating next year.

Thanks again!

 

[keesmom]

Usually white in silkies is recessive. That being said, it will hide patterns and colors. Breeding to white can result in just about anything.