Porcelain Silkies

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Seems in this case the birds given the title 'porcelain' are more like a sort of isobel.

Confusing for us I know. But it seems to happen in so many breeds. Recently I've seen cochins called lemon blue that are not what we know as lemon blue; brahmas called lemon pyle which weren't pyle (splash buff columbian by the looks of it). Then we've got people in various countries calling the same colour different names.....I'm surprised any of us ever know what we're talking about.....& perhaps we don't.

Some, such as my bird are more isabel in colour, others have much more of the lavender, such as the first photo posted.

 

[Krys109uk]

They look really pretty & imo both colours are very effective

 

[BamaChicken]

Sonornan are you having to continue to breed Lav to Buff to create the color or does it breed true once you have it. Like you breed porcelain to porcelain and get porcelain?

 

[fowlrus]

I have a hen that's kind of levander and isabel mixed, I took her to county poutry show and judge said she was poor colouring. I thought she was the most beautiful silkie I have never own.

Can any one tell me what color she is? Here's her picture:

Fowlrus/Angie SchertzTX - home of the showgirl/silkie and marans

 

[catwalk]

Oh no, Angie! I meant to tell you that I agree with the judge! I am starting an ugly bird sanctuary, and my place would be the perfect home for her!

 

[fowlrus]

HAHAHA, you are too funny.
Here's another one that's lighter in color:

What do y'all think?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Those birds are what is being bred and called porcelain in silkies. The name for the lavender diluted buff feathering is isabel. Some of the porcelain silkies are mostly lavender, some are mostly isabel, same have good amounts of both colours in their plumage.

As to the judge's comments, there are a large number of breeders, judges included, who don't really agree with the concept of new colours, whether one is working to get a new colour into the standard or is just playing around. Did you ask him WHY he considered her colouring poor? What was he comparing her to, colourwise?

If you are working at breeding this colour, try to ignore rude comments, and realize that the birds have to be shown if they are to be recognised. It will still take some years as there has to be five years of documented breeding.

Personally, I find this colour stunningly beautiful.

 

[HatTrickSilkies]

Quote:
What color did you tell the Judge she was?

~ Nikki

 

[fowlrus]

YES! YES! YES! They are absolutely breath taking to me.

I did asked, judge said the color was not evenly distributed thought out the body, and he said: frankly, this is not a recognized color. In another word, he don't know what color she is.
I can't thank you enough for all the comment and information, I'm excited. I have a rooster looks just like them too, guess I'm going to hatching some myself.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Well some devil's advocate comments in general, it is NOT a recognised variety, and there isn't really an agreement (or disagreement for that matter) on eactly what to breed for colourwise. Should it be mostly lavender? Should it be mostly isabel? Should there be equal (or specified proportions) blending of the two colours? Are we trying for the true porcelain that includes the mille fleur pattern?

With no standard, the judge can only base his decisions and opinions on what he sees. Certainly he can judge the birds on type and toes and all the other aspects of the breed, but unless we supply a working standard, or the colour and pattern already exist as a standard variety for another breed, then she/he doesn't really have anything to base decisions upon.

Let's say that you have two birds who, from a breed standpoint are equal in every way--type, toes, crest, feather quality, wings, body type, etc.--they might well be identical twins. BUT, their colouring varies dramatically--one tends to be more lavender, the other more isabel, in one the colours are blended together, whereas in the others the different colours are in different regions (we're going to assume same gender). Okay, which one is the better bird? Everything except plumage has been a pure tie, so your decision is based upon plumage colouring, and there is no standard to judge by.

Okay, back to reality, the situation I described above is very unlikely to occur; birds simply aren't exactly alike, and chances are pretty high that one will be a better bird than the other, even without considering colour and pattern, but we do need to start discussing a working standard.