Silkie pullet and cockrel photo..need opinions please

[Sonoran Silkies]

A chick can display evidence of gold or silver in its down; however, this does not mean that insufficient melanizers are present. If adult plumage is clear in the hackles (blue in a blue bird, black in a black bird), then sufficient melanizers are present. Do not judge by down or first feathers.

 

[muzzles&nuzzles]

Thanks for clarifying that. The black hen had gold several years ago when she was a young bird. I do not see it now. I will recheck her and my blues. I didn't breed them for several years so I wasn't really looking. This year the cockeral has just a touch of brownish color on the tips of several of his hackle feathers. I assumed it was gold. It is very hard to see and I only saw it because I had him out on the grass in the direct sunlight. I couldn't see it just holding him in the gargage. It is very hard to see and it is not a splotch you almost have to pull the hackle feathers together to see it.
The black had exactly the same thing as this little blue. I won't breed her. I have a new black roo and a blue hen coming so I am going to be working with them.
Thanks