Silkie Color Verification and Breeding Program

[BlendedFamilyFarmSilkies]

I am not super familiar with what splash looks like when growing out because I haven’t ever had splash. But that first one doesn’t look paint to me. Paint is dominant white over black. And especially if the breeder told you she didn’t have paints in that batch. So he is probably splash.

The gray looking one I would guess is blue? Or splash? Or gray? Or lavender? lol it is so hard to tell right now!

If you can find out if the white is dominant or recessive that would be helpful to you to know. If dominant, then bred to black the offspring would be 100% paint. If recessive, it would have no white offspring unless the roo carries recessive white also. If you have pictures of the white one maybe we could tell?

She is pure white with a little maybe gray feathering on the tips of her wings? She had a lot more color before molting and now is almost pure white at 2 months old.

 

[Slothinc]

She is pure white with a little maybe gray feathering on the tips of her wings? She had a lot more color before molting and now is almost pure white at 2 months old.

To me, that sounds like a recessive white. Recessive whites can be hatched with all kinds of colored chick down and then when they grow their feathers out they are always pure white. I have had some dark gray chicks turn white when they feathered out! So I’d guess that is what you have.

Imo recessive whites are best for using only in a recessive white pen, because otherwise random colors can pop up breeding them to other colors. I have recessive white hiding in some of my birds and it popped up in my last hatch. (So both my rooster and a couple of hens carried it) Now it’s a little annoying because I know a lot of the other chicks probably carry recessive white but I don’t know which ones.

 

[Slothinc]

The one that might best splash looks a lot different than I would think a splash would be, because of the large white patches. Is it possible that it could be splash mottled or something? Never heard of that but I just haven’t ever seen one with that patterning. (Again, I haven’t ever owned a splash so I might be totally wrong about how they grow in)

 

[2ndTink]

The one that might best splash looks a lot different than I would think a splash would be, because of the large white patches. Is it possible that it could be splash mottled or something? Never heard of that but I just haven’t ever seen one with that patterning. (Again, I haven’t ever owned a splash so I might be totally wrong about how they grow in)

Yeah, I'm really not sure on that one either.

I've had a handful of splashes, they start pretty light in down and then once they start getting wing feathers you'll start seeing the grey / blue spots. But they're usually even across the bird, not patchy.

 

[BlendedFamilyFarmSilkies]

Yeah, I'm really not sure on that one either.

I've had a handful of splashes, they start pretty light in down and then once they start getting wing feathers you'll start seeing the grey / blue spots. But they're usually even across the bird, not patchy.

I am so confused about what I have at this point and what to do with it! lol!! Maybe it is a mottled splash? He sure is beautiful!

Honestly, if I’m already out of color standard does it matter if I don’t breed color pure? I’m sure the chicks would sell for less. Would I be considered an irresponsible breeder?

 

[2ndTink]

I am so confused about what I have at this point and what to do with it! lol!! Maybe it is a mottled splash? He sure is beautiful!

Honestly, if I’m already out of color standard does it matter if I don’t breed color pure? I’m sure the chicks would sell for less. Would I be considered an irresponsible breeder?

Irresponsible breeder... not really. If you breed some super cute chicks that go to great families and bring them joy and eggs, how is that Irresponsible!?! Overall are you benefiting the silkie breed? Not for the show breeders but again, adding beauty and love to a backyard flock, that's hard to beat. You can always work with what you have, hatch some, have fun, later on maybe you'll get a few more of a standard color and do SOP colors in the future.

 

[BlendedFamilyFarmSilkies]

Thank you for your advice!

 

[Slothinc]

If that boy is a mottle (which I kind of don’t know if he is, because mottles usually have white skin and bright red combs)… but if he is, then all the babies will carry mottle and it will be noticeable in the chick down coloring but not as adults. You could easily just sell the chicks as BBS (black, blue, splash) and let people know that they carry the mottled gene as well.

Feel free to continue posting pictures of him as he matures and maybe we can figure out what is going on with him. And the other one that is hard to tell as well!

I don’t think you would be an irresponsible breeder, lots of people enjoy getting a “mixed bag” of colors with their chicks. Only those who are looking for a specific color/type/quality/etc will care. I found rather quickly that it is not too hard to find homes for chicks. Well except for this past year, the market in my area was soooo over saturated for all breeds, that it actually was more difficult. Silkies are a breed that bring people a lot of joy and I think you’ll be able to have fun with them.

 

[BlendedFamilyFarmSilkies]

If that boy is a mottle (which I kind of don’t know if he is, because mottles usually have white skin and bright red combs)… but if he is, then all the babies will carry mottle and it will be noticeable in the chick down coloring but not as adults. You could easily just sell the chicks as BBS (black, blue, splash) and let people know that they carry the mottled gene as well.

Feel free to continue posting pictures of him as he matures and maybe we can figure out what is going on with him. And the other one that is hard to tell as well!

I don’t think you would be an irresponsible breeder, lots of people enjoy getting a “mixed bag” of colors with their chicks. Only those who are looking for a specific color/type/quality/etc will care. I found rather quickly that it is not too hard to find homes for chicks. Well except for this past year, the market in my area was soooo over saturated for all breeds, that it actually was more difficult. Silkies are a breed that bring people a lot of joy and I think you’ll be able to have fun with them.

Yeah, he does* have black skin. Everything else about the splash is standard besides the unusual coloring thus far. I will update with pictures as he grows!

Awesome, I’ll keep that in mind. Hubby might get his wish after all to just start with this flock. They were $25 a piece as chicks

 

[BlendedFamilyFarmSilkies]

UPDATE: girl is definitely a blue and the boy is a light gray confirmed by breeder.

Blue is not going to work with any of my other chickens going to swap blue out for colors that will work. Thanks everyone