Needing Help With Silkie Genetics!

[nicalandia]

If you were trying to create lavender, would you be able to by crossing the splits back to the Porcelain parent?

That would be the quickest way to get back a Lavender, about 50% chance actually.

 

[msiler]

Ok, I figured out where I went wrong. The normal setting on the calculator has a recessive white bird having Extended black as the base instead of partridge... which is what you were trying to say earlier! Makes a lot of sense now, thanks!

 

[jas humbert]

Keep in mind you may not know know what the other genes in your white are. There is dominant white in this breed as well and it can be tough to tell recessive white from dominant white. Dominant white can be hiding almost anything. As the others have said, sometimes test breedings are the only way to tell what is underneath. Too many of us, myself included, haven't breed 10+ generations of the same color. We mix thing up from time to time and unless older generations were yours and you kept very careful track of parents, it is going to be iffy what the hidden genes are. The very recessive ones like lavender and blue cream are almost easier because it is so recessive and not hiding a great many other colors. In other words lavender to lavender give you a very high probability of lavender chicks but dominant white to dominant white will produce some white but could also produce almost anything else too. I agree that lavender to white MAY produce some black with lavender split but there will likely be be a plethora of other colors too.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

@nicalandia
@msiler
@jas humbert

Thankyou all for the information, i appreciate it!

I'm only breeding my whites x whites for showing. The other colours that would be crossed with the white are just for fun really.

I think the more unusual mixed colours I'd get from them the better. I'm hoping to somehow achieve white with gold leakage eventually but we'll see what happens!

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

@nicalandia

Thought I'd mention this since you seemed interested on people achieving black skin on cuckoo Silkies.

Unfortunately my girl was half light and half dark skin with black legs but red face.

However, I have found a breeder that has achieved the full black skin colouration and the black comb/face with dark eyes too.

I'm calling there on Wednesday to pick up some other birds for myself and I've asked to see them. If I can get some photos I will but there's no guarantee I'll be able to.

Just thought you may be interested.

 

[msiler]

@nicalandia

Thought I'd mention this since you seemed interested on people achieving black skin on cuckoo Silkies.

Unfortunately my girl was half light and half dark skin with black legs but red face.

However, I have found a breeder that has achieved the full black skin colouration and the black comb/face with dark eyes too.

I'm calling there on Wednesday to pick up some other birds for myself and I've asked to see them. If I can get some photos I will but there's no guarantee I'll be able to.

Just thought you may be interested.

What color was it that had the red face? Good call in my opinion!

Are The birds you are going to look at wednesday in the colors you want?

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

What color was it that had the red face? Good call in my opinion!

Are The birds you are going to look at wednesday in the colors you want?

Oh all my Silkies have the black face/skin except my cuckoo Silkie. She's got the red face. As nicalandia said previously, it's difficult to achieve and find a cuckoo Silkie with all black skin and face.

There has been a change of plan with who I am ordering my birds off. I've been super lucky in finding a more local breeder that focuses on Silkies and they do the lavender! Now I don't have to order them online and I can see them in person before buying them.

But yes they do have the colours I'm wanting (pure white and lavender). They have pretty much achieved all the colours you can think off and they've bred for perfection.

I only know they do the black skinned cuckoo after I mentioned I had one with a red face when I rang them. I have seen photos of them but I'm just looking forward to seeing them when I go for the birds I'm wanting

Although the cuckoo is nice, it'd be pointless me getting another since I can't show them

Edited with a photo of my cuckoo pullet:

 

[nicalandia]

@nicalandia

Thought I'd mention this since you seemed interested on people achieving black skin on cuckoo Silkies.

Unfortunately my girl was half light and half dark skin with black legs but red face.

However, I have found a breeder that has achieved the full black skin colouration and the black comb/face with dark eyes too.

I'm calling there on Wednesday to pick up some other birds for myself and I've asked to see them. If I can get some photos I will but there's no guarantee I'll be able to.

Just thought you may be interested.

Thanks, would be nice for you to take pics of the skin once you have authenticated the breeder's claim and perhaps when the birds are yours.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Thanks, would be nice for you to take pics of the skin once you have authenticated the breeder's claim and perhaps when the birds are yours.

Of course, no problem.

I'll not be buying any of the cuckoo's but when I see them, if I manage to get photos I'll ask permission to show them here beforehand.

Regardless I'm looking forward to seeing them considering I've never seen one before that's fully black skinned and faced.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I forgot to post back here, I keep forgetting each of my threads when notifications disappear.

I can confirm the breeder had achieve cuckoos with black skin/legs/face. There was only a few but for sure they had them!

I have another question which I've tried searching but haven't found anything on it

Today I've had some of my white Silkie eggs hatch. They're still wet in the incubator so I haven't had a super close look yet.

However, it looks like one has pink legs but it's skin and face is black.

I've read that it's usually both the skin and legs that are pink, not usually black skin with pink legs.

Unless they will darken as it grows? He/She is cute regardless

When I move them to the brooder I'll get a better look and some photos.