Silkie Coloring

[NoSkiveez]

I have some questions about the coloring of one of my silkies. I am pretty sure this one is a male (I could be wrong). He was all black when I got him at 3 weeks old. A few weeks ago I noticed that he had a off colored hair (for lack of a better discription). This is how he looks now. He's about 10 weeks old now.

What would this be considered?
What would happen if he was mated to another color of silkie?

 

[Brody's Broodello]

It's a Partridge. The color lightens as they grow up.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Yep Partridge

 

[NoSkiveez]

Will this happen all over his body or could it end up splotchy?

Are all Partridge colored black when they are young?

I just hatched some silkie eggs I got from a friend and they didnt come out black (her hen is a partridge and I believe the roo is white)

here they are

 

[HatTrickSilkies]

It's not a partridge, it's a poorly colored 'black'.

~ Nikki

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

As Nikki said, it looks to be a black that has gold leaking through quite a bit. Sometimes it's just the hackles, but in this case it is the entire head, neck and hackles.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

This is what many of my darker partridge males look like as their feathering comes in. It will be awhile before you know how good his colouring will be The colouring on his male pattern areas will continue coming in for some months. Do you have any photos of him as a chick?

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
Thanks Suze.... I have darker color Partridges also. They have always done well at the shows. At the last show, someone who had the very light color Partridges, asked the Judge why their's did not do well compared to our birds. Their birds had done well at another show. The judge explained that Partridge pattern, especially in silkies is difficult to see, when compared to "normal" feathering. But that the darker" our birds" did show a definate change in coloring ie patterning, much more closer to the "normal" feather pattern. The super light ie washed out color birds ar to light, not showing a change in coloring like a true partridge pattern. The included picture makes her look very orange but my camera decided to flash. But this birds has won RB,BV's at a number of shows.

Here is her mother, Many wins, Champ FL, BB,BV etc.

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Question for you Suze,
Why do you think that the male Partridges have more red in them than females?