Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Debs55]

If you want splash silkies you will need offspring from a blue x blue, blue x splash or splash x splash.

blue x blue = 25% black, 50% blue, 25% splash
blue x splash = 50% blue, 50% splash
splash x splash = 50% splash

Pure splash breedings over time tend to wash out the "splashing".

As for breeding to white, white is a wild card. The white gene is an off switch preventing colors and patterns from showing. That means a white could carry just about anything genetically and there is no way to be sure what color the resulting offspring will be.

ok so I have white silkies. I have been breeding them for several generations and have only recieved white chicks so I know they wont throw other colors. So if I get some blue hens and a roo and keep them in my pen with my white hens and roo and let them breed I could end up with these breeding combinations: white X white, white X blue, blue X blue, and blue X white. Through these comibinations I could get white, blue, black and splash chicks. Is that right? lol sorry I am just trying to figure this all out.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

ok so I have white silkies. I have been breeding them for several generations and have only recieved white chicks so I know they wont throw other colors. So if I get some blue hens and a roo and keep them in my pen with my white hens and roo and let them breed I could end up with these breeding combinations: white X white, white X blue, blue X blue, and blue X white. Through these comibinations I could get white, blue, black and splash chicks. Is that right? lol sorry I am just trying to figure this all out.

Your white birds are still another color under the white feathers. White is a dominant color that masks the real color of the bird. You could have any color birds in your white pen. Adding blue hens will not guarantee any color. You can get any color from the white roosters.

 

[Debs55]

Your white birds are still another color under the white feathers. White is a dominant color that masks the real color of the bird. You could have any color birds in your white pen. Adding blue hens will not guarantee any color. You can get any color from the white roosters.

oh ok so basically white bred to white is white but white bred to any other color is a mystery? is it different for white hens? sorry for all the questions!

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

oh ok so basically white bred to white is white but white bred to any other color is a mystery? is it different for white hens? sorry for all the questions!

For all pure white chickens it is the same. White to white gives you white and its the same for hens and roosters. It is easier if you think about white like a coat of paint. Genetically all white birds are a colored bird that got genes that painted it white. White birds are a color, you just cannot see it.

 

[Debs55]

oh ok thanks so much. I understand this alot more now now off to search for either some blue silkies or some eggs that may give me blue silkies

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

oh ok thanks so much. I understand this alot more now now off to search for either some blue silkies or some eggs that may give me blue silkies

If you were a bit closer, I could certainly help you with that! I have blue Silkie chicks coming out of my ears!

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

If you were a bit closer, I could certainly help you with that! I have blue Silkie chicks coming out of my ears!

Ha ha me too! More are hatching as we speak.

 

[Debs55]

Man that stinks! lol Might have to hit y'all up for some eggs. Im working on a homemade incubator now. It's almost done and if a test run with my own eggs goes well I will start on my wish list eggs next

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Man that stinks! lol Might have to hit y'all up for some eggs. Im working on a homemade incubator now. It's almost done and if a test run with my own eggs goes well I will start on my wish list eggs next

Here are some teaser pictures.

The first little one is a splash.

 

[Debs55]

They are so cute!