Sex- linked Information

[donrae]

Anybody know if BSL pullets created using Black male x Barred hen would have any phenotypical white leakage in the plumage? I'm trying to figure out if it would be possibly to produce sex linked birds that could be shown. Obviously only the females would be a pure color, but all the same. I've got a Sex Linked Silkie project in the works, mostly I'll be marketing birds for pet uses but I know there are some people out there who might be interested in showing but not able to keep a cockerel in their area. Based on my knowledge of genetics and the chicken calculator I'm thinking they wouldn't have any leakage, but I wanted to double check with all y'all.

If your black rooster is silver based, you may get some silver leakage instead of the classic red/gold leakage. I had a few hens from a silver rooster over barred hens and they had a modified birchen look (but not genetically birchen, of course). I've never had white leakage, and I don't think you would get it, unless there was maybe recessive white in the rooster? Dominant white masks black, so that wouldn't be an issue. I'm not sure right off how recessive white plays with black....

How's your sex link silkie project going?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
The problem with a BSL silkie for exhibition is going to be skin pigment, not plumage. The barring gene itself lightens skin pigment, and silkies are supposed to have dark skin

 

[donrae]

The problem with a BSL silkie for exhibition is going to be skin pigment, not plumage. The barring gene itself lightens skin pigment, and silkies are supposed to have dark skin

Would the females have light skin, though, if they were sex linked and not barred? I'm thinking that's why she said only the females would be a pure color. I know the folks trying to get cuckoo Ameraucana have issues with the barring gene but I've not really looked into silkies.....

 

[QueenMisha]

If your black rooster is silver based, you may get some silver leakage instead of the classic red/gold leakage. I had a few hens from a silver rooster over barred hens and they had a modified birchen look (but not genetically birchen, of course). I've never had white leakage, and I don't think you would get it, unless there was maybe recessive white in the rooster? Dominant white masks black, so that wouldn't be an issue. I'm not sure right off how recessive white plays with black....

How's your sex link silkie project going?

Thanks!

The project is just beginning, as of yet. I've got pretty much all the male stock I need - one Red Partridge, one Buff (with lots of red leakage/autosomal red? not sure), one Partridge, and a beautiful Cuckoo roo for breeding pure Cuckoos on the side. Only one hen so far though, a Cuckoo Smooth Sizzle pullet who should carry the Silkie gene - fingers crossed she does. I need more hens but the cost of breeder stock Silkie girls is crazy! I've also got four Silkie chicks, one blackish-Partridge and one who appears to be Buff Partridge, and one Cuckoo Smooth Sizzle and one Cuckoo Frizzle Sizzle, again both of which should have a good chance of carrying the Silkie gene, per the breeder. Of course 3/4 chicks are currently looking like boys - good news for the partridge babies, not what I was hoping for with the Cuckoos though.

The project was originally to be for Standard Sized Sex-Linked Silkies, which I'm still planning on, but since that's gonna take a long while I'm mostly gonna be focusing on the regular old first-gen Sex Linked Silkies this next season or two and hatching some of the Standard-infused eggs on the side. I do already have a few Cochins saved up for size infusions, though.

The problem with a BSL silkie for exhibition is going to be skin pigment, not plumage.  The barring gene itself lightens skin pigment, and silkies are supposed to have dark skin

Yes, and I've seen this for sure. The breeder I buy from has beautiful birds, great dark skin, but these Cuckoos have bright cherry combs! But it would be the females who would be shown - a bird that does not carry the Barring gene. Which brings in the question of genetics vs line breeding. I feel like offsetting the dam's poor melanization with a really good, dark skinned male could help keep the pullet's combs nice and dark in combination with their lack of Barring gene. It'll be interesting to see how they turn out for sure!

Would the females have light skin, though, if they were sex linked and not barred? I'm thinking that's why she said only the females would be a pure color. I know the folks trying to get cuckoo Ameraucana have issues with the barring gene but I've not really looked into silkies.....

Based on what I've seen and read, the main problem with the Cuckoo color is the skin pigmentation. The plumage itself is definitely good for a relatively new color, although of course on Silkies it ain't easy to see the pattern anyways. I'll post some pics of my new Cuckoos when I can, the roo especially is a real stunner to see. The skin color though is apparently so hard to obtain that breeders are considering trying to get this color standard to allow light skin/red combs, if/when it gets accepted.

 

[QueenMisha]

These are the Cuckoo chicks... or should I say Cuckoo cockerels looking at the color of those combs!? One smooth sizzle, one frizzle sizzle. They've got a nice good chance of carrying the Silkie gene according to the breeder, so fingers crossed for that. They're very cute but yeah, almost no melanization in the skin or combs. Too late at night to get any pics of the hen or cockerel, I'll try to get some tomorrow.

 

[ronott1]

The problem with a BSL silkie for exhibition is going to be skin pigment, not plumage. The barring gene itself lightens skin pigment, and silkies are supposed to have dark skin

It won't matter for 4-H. They do not go by the standard too much--Wait, Are silkies in the APA?

I looked it up--they do have a standard.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I see you found it.

http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/standard.asp

 

[ronott1]

I see you found it.

http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/standard.asp

4-H shows are more about record keeping and raising a healthy animal. They do not go that much into the standards so you need to know what kind of "showing" the birds are for.

You can enter a nice hatchery RIR that is very non standard and it will do well at most 4-H shows.

APA or ABA shows are a completely different beast.

 

[cmom]

Quote: You are correct and I did read your post that it was for 4-H

 

[curious chickee]

Silkies are not the best for 4H as they do not walk and pose will, plus some 4H clubs can not show any cross breeds. Ours only allows purebred chickens, and ours prefers those that breed to SOP as we compete in APA recognized shows, not just fairs.