Silkie thread!

[peepblessed]

The different classic-colorations handling over the years in EU Silkies (now going for non classic-colorations)

Black Blue Splash graypearl gold Silver Red Buff Cucula Paint white


The different ways to breed them genetically are exposed here in one of my older webpages :
http://sites.google.com/site/zijdehoenders/t&dcreating/basics-about-chicken-color-genetics-heritage
(is one long page, so you have to scroll dawnwords)

As the title says it are only the basic rules of color-genetics but are helpfull for every starter project-breeder.

After the basics comes in each breeder feeling for inspiration and "fingerspitzengefühl" for implementation of different genes and combinations to let act and interact in Dominant, incomplete Dominant, coo-Dominant, epistatic, recessive ….. ways to become the most beautiful "creations" in his/her personal favourite race and so resulting in ALL the different phenotypes that our chicken-colorations are rich of.

Is graypearl the same as lavender? I remember that you used to raise paints but gave them up. Is that be cause they don't breed true or do they breed true in EU?

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

I forgot the pic....

He looks splash with the much lighter underfluff like that. Or he's just a light based blue...What color was he as a chick do you know? was he very pale or was he dark?

 

[SilverSilkie]

Is graypearl the same as lavender? I remember that you used to raise paints but gave them up. Is that be cause they don't breed true or do they breed true in EU?

I try to make a simple resumé to avoid further confusions. We must make a distinction between the name of a "gene" (= genetic-term) and the name of a "coloration" (= hobby-name).

Lavender is the name of the color-gene lav/lav
lav/lav is a recessive gene. A recessive gene need both alleles in the mutated form to can express.
So Lav+/lav is only 1 allel (or single doses) so this will not express but the bird is split (carrier) of 1 doses lavender.
Graypearl is the name for what we can see with the eye of the expression of the black-pigment diluted by the gene lavender (= a coloration).
Cream is the name for what we can see with the eye of the color-expression of red-pigment diluted by the gene lavender (= a coloration).

When we can see graypearl and cream at the same time this is called Isabel (= a coloration). (this bird have a double doses of lav/lav and will breed 100% true when bred to a similar bird with double doses of lav/lav)
When we can see graypearl and cream and white at the same time this is (wrongly but common) called Porcelain (= a coloration). (this bird have a double doses of lav/lav and will breed 100 % true when bred to a similar bird with double doses of lav/lav)
When you breed a Isabel or a Porcelain or a graypearl (all have a double doses of lav/lav) to a bird with NO doses of Lav+/Lav+ you will become 0% true breedings but all becomed chicks will be "split" Lav+/lav = carrier of 1 doses of the gene lavender. All these chicks will show their original coloration, which can be Partridge, Buff, Splash or Black, Blue, ....

Paints (= a coloration) is the name given to the phenomenon of a white with black spots (looks a little similar as a solid black with 2 doses dilution of Bl/Bl what is called Splash but is genetically totaly different).
As far as is known a Paint X Paint produces 25% Black / 50% Paints / 25% White (this is for the EU Paints), so EU Paints breed for 50% true.

 

[chicknfun]

Quote: He was sort of a mid color grey, this is the earliest pic I could find, I would say he is about 3 months here, maybe 4. He is about 6 months now.... Age
is a guess because my calendar that I recorded their dates on mysteriously disappeared

I got him in early February.....My first chicken, and I forgot to ask how old he was at that point. based on the growth of my other silkies that I have gotten since, I think he was maybe near 2 months old.
If you notice his foot sticking out, that was about the color he was originally, lighter than the overall color in the pic, but not really pale.
He has hackle feathers on his neck now, and they are a dark grey and very shiny. Thanks Jessy

 

[peepblessed]

I try to make a simple resumé to avoid further confusions. We must make a distinction between the name of a "gene" (= genetic-term) and the name of a "coloration" (= hobby-name).

Lavender is the name of the color-gene lav/lav
lav/lav is a recessive gene. A recessive gene need both alleles in the mutated form to can express.
So Lav+/lav is only 1 allel (or single doses) so this will not express but the bird is split (carrier) of 1 doses lavender.
Graypearl is the name for what we can see with the eye of the expression of the black-pigment diluted by the gene lavender (= a coloration).
Cream is the name for what we can see with the eye of the color-expression of red-pigment diluted by the gene lavender (= a coloration).

When we can see graypearl and cream at the same time this is called Isabel (= a coloration). (this bird have a double doses of lav/lav and will breed 100% true when bred to a similar bird with double doses of lav/lav)
When we can see graypearl and cream and white at the same time this is (wrongly but common) called Porcelain (= a coloration). (this bird have a double doses of lav/lav and will breed 100 % true when bred to a similar bird with double doses of lav/lav)
When you breed a Isabel or a Porcelain or a graypearl (all have a double doses of lav/lav) to a bird with NO doses of Lav+/Lav+ you will become 0% true breedings but all becomed chicks will be "split" Lav+/lav = carrier of 1 doses of the gene lavender. All these chicks will show their original coloration, which can be Partridge, Buff, Splash or Black, Blue, ....

Paints (= a coloration) is the name given to the phenomenon of a white with black spots (looks a little similar as a solid black with 2 doses dilution of Bl/Bl what is called Splash but is genetically totaly different).
As far as is known a Paint X Paint produces 25% Black / 50% Paints / 25% White (this is for the EU Paints), so EU Paints breed for 50% true.

Would that mean that the "porcelains" we are breeding here could correctly be called isabel? or cream or isabel/cream! I would sure like to get an accurate name for what I've got!!!

 

[Basel]

Silkie Experts!

Quick egg size question...for my incubator.
I need to get a new egg ring [for the automatic turner] for the silkie chicks I'm going to hatch.

What is the average silkie egg size? I can get a turning ring that will hold 3/4" to 1 1/4" eggs, or one that holds 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" eggs? Which one should I get?

I appreciate your help!! I want to order this today if possible.
THANKS!

 

[peepblessed]

Silkie Experts!

Quick egg size question...for my incubator.
I need to get a new egg ring [for the automatic turner] for the silkie chicks I'm going to hatch.

What is the average silkie egg size? I can get a turning ring that will hold 3/4" to 1 1/4" eggs, or one that holds 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" eggs? Which one should I get?

I appreciate your help!! I want to order this today if possible.
THANKS!

Mine are between 1 1/4" and 1 1/2"

 

[Chicken Play]

Here is my rooster, now that I really look at him, he has alot more color than i thought...hmmm..im thinking maybe not so good? ?

 

[TheChicknGarden]

the birthday girl (4yrs) with her baby bow tied show girls (1week)




cookie (partridge) and flour ( white? porcelain ? not really too sure wing feathers are white... sure will be fun to see what color she/he ends up)
ooo its been some time since we have had baby peeping in the house ... super cute , just might be two of the cutest chicks we've had... oddly enough the husband agrees and he was first thrown off by the whole bare necks lol

 

[Chicken Play]

One of my hens