Silkie Breeding colours

[Egglodge]

I have a Grey a white and black Rooster plus various color hens. I recently hatched some pure black hens, I would like to know, If I got rid of my black rooster, will that mean any future chicks I hatch cant be pure black. Must a breed black/black to get black? I know the white can carry black, but could a white or blue rooster breeding with a black hen turn out pure black?

 

[The Moonshiner]

A blue Xs black breeding will average 50% black and 50% blue offspring.
With white it all depends what other genes they carry. More often then not now days they at least carry partridge.
As far as producing pure blacks it depends what you consider pure? Do you mean pure as in genetically pure or pure as in solid black? You can get hens that aren't genetically pure black but looks wise they'll be pure black. Its harder with males because they tend to leak other pattern genes when they're present.

 

[Egglodge]

A blue Xs black breeding will average 50% black and 50% blue offspring.
With white it all depends what other genes they carry. More often then not now days they at least carry partridge.
As far as producing pure blacks it depends what you consider pure? Do you mean pure as in genetically pure or pure as in solid black? You can get hens that aren't genetically pure black but looks wise they'll be pure black. Its harder with males because they tend to leak other pattern genes when they're present.

I only mean looks-wise, I'm just wondering if I don't breed black/black is it certain that it will near impossible for them to turn out a solid black colour. Or it is possible that my solid black chicks could have come from a mix of Black / White.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Yes they could of came from black Xs white.
Black is extended black and that's dominate over partridge, birchen, etc. So ya in theory you can cross patterns or mix them and still get black birds.
In my experience it does work that way a lot with pullets but not often with cockerel. Another thing is that tbe leakage usually takes a month or two to start showing up so just because a chick is a solid black chick doesn't mean it will be as an adult.

 

[Egglodge]

Yes they could of came from black Xs white.
Black is extended black and that's dominate over partridge, birchen, etc. So ya in theory you can cross patterns or mix them and still get black birds.
In my experience it does work that way a lot with pullets but not often with cockerel. Another thing is that tbe leakage usually takes a month or two to start showing up so just because a chick is a solid black chick doesn't mean it will be as an adult.

Great! The chicks are now 12 weeks old and still solid black so fingers crossed

 

[Feathercrazie]

Great! The chicks are now 12 weeks old and still solid black so fingers crossed

I don't know if this works with all breeds, but i have noticed that with my black birds in the past that if the chick has a small amount of white on its chest it is less apt to show any red or white in its adult feathers. Just my observation.