Self Blue (Lavender) Silkie Thread

[Elite Silkies]

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well I often sell my splits but I let peoiple know there is a 50/50 chance that they are infact carrying the gene and that only breeding will tell them for sure. I think if the seller is honest about the splits it is fine but to act like they all have the gene is wrong unless you have bred and can say for sure.

Yes, I agree. As long as the buyer is informed I think that is fine. I do have splits from my Splash and Lavender pen. I used two of my Splash because of their crest and they are just nice birds.


Betsy, your correct. If you breed a Lavender with a non-lavender, they all carry 1 copy of the Lavender gene. (Splits) If you breed 2 splits together, you will only get 25% Lavender Offspring. If you breed Lavender to a split bird, you will get 50% Lavender Offspring.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Well, if a split is bred, half its offspring will receive the gene and half not. When bred to a non-lavender carrying bird, half will be split and half not--and you will not be able to tell the difference unless THEIR offspring is hom. lavender.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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Well, if a split is bred, half its offspring will receive the gene and half not. When bred to a non-lavender carrying bird, half will be split and half not--and you will not be able to tell the difference unless THEIR offspring is hom. lavender.

So if you breed a Lavender to a non-lavender, would the offspring carry one copy of the gene? Or just half of them?

 

[keesmom]

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Breeding lavender to non lavender will result in all offspring carrying one copy of lav (split).

 

[brenTx]

I just have to wade in....you all have parts of this right.

OK....think of it this way....IF YOU HAVE A TRULY PURE LAVENDER BIRD....breeding it to any color is going to give the off spring one lavender gene. So sure breeding to blue, splash, would be carriers BUT ALL would be splits no matter what they end up looking like, even if they appear lavender. These would be what we refer to as splits to lavender and not yet lavender. This first step, crossing, is where so many get the idea they already have lavender chicks and THEY DON'T. By crossing the splits back to another PURE lavender bird you should get 50% lavender and 50% what ever...this is the mess...can you now tell blue from splash from lavenders and be sure which chicks are carrying the two genes? Just because it looks lavenders doesn't make it so and certainly won't breed true.

I don't know if breeders are just not getting it and think by using blue or splash with self blue you get lavender chicks faster or they are just greedy. I do know doing it gives the APPEARANCE of lavender FASTER. ASK ASK ASK...what is the back ground of the chicks?

Seeing pictures doesn't always give you the true take either.

 

[Elite Silkies]

That's what I thought, that they would all be splits. Then you breed back to the splits with another lavender and get 50% Lavenders, but those are still going to be hard to pick out, right?

Bren, that is what I was thinking, but I just couldn't explain it right. That you really can't tell the "muddy splash" from Lavenders. Which is why I stated that you could look at the wing shafts. But, I am not positive that the wing shaft method would work?

Which I would never offer a bird as Lavender by this method, because there is always human error.

I'm going to say GREED is the culprit of some sellers selling "Lavender" when they know they are not going to breed true. Which is where the Splash/Lavender splotchiness comes into play. Several people want to know why there Lavender's have darker spots. So, I am assuming that the blotchy or muddy looking birds are only carrying one Lav gene, if they have blotchiness/spots.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I guess I'm not understanding one aspect of this. I know that breeding lavenders on a black base is recommended to keep the color from being too diluted, but if 2 lavender genes make lavender, why does it matter if a splash, blue or black is used...aside from keeping the color darker as mentioned already.

If the chick from 2 split lav/splash birds are hatched as lavenders, they shouldn't have any splashing, splotching or other weird color. They should be lavender...at least some shade of lavender...as I understand it.

Is this right or wrong...or only right in theory??

 

[trisha19]

Here is a picture of my lavender that is getting splashing to it.

 

[sonew123]

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this is exactly why I only have Blacks and lavs-I would get so so confused easily-I have a whole group of split Lavs that all are black -each carry 1 copy of the lav gene-so I have all of them free-ranging right now until they are old enough for a breeding pen-then they will all go in together-I only have a 25% shot at pure lavs hatching out that way but Im good with that. or I could stick them back in with dad that is 100% lav and go for the 50% chance but they ( THE SPLITS) are feathered out much better than he so I want to keep that going When Im done with the 100% black bearded silkie moms-I will sell them:-( This way I know for a fact there is no mistaking the genetics going on...

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

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This is understand Bren. But a true lavender bird should LOOK lavender...and a light blue should not look like a lavender....should it? Do you think it's just inexperienced people saying they have a lavender because it is a light even color?

I do agree that folks get greedy and even say "May be carrying lavender gene"... WTH?? What difference does it make if they may or may not be carrying the gene?? I say..."Buyer beware" of any claims like that. Save your $$ and buy a true lavender birds from a reputable breeder. It costs the same amount to feed them and you won't have to wonder if your bird is a lavender or an imposter.