Silkie thread!

[tjo804]

Hello, I just started reading this thread it seems to have some very smart Silkie lovers here. I am trying to figure out what color the 2 silkies I have taken in are. I am thinking the cockerel is blue partridge I was told he was red. In the past I have had blue and buff. I am sure this new guy will look much better once his tail grows back.
Is his comb dark enough?

 

[tjo804]

I also have a hen I was told is at least 4 years old. I am not sure if she is grey lavender or a mix up?
What do you think?

 

[tjo804]

Oops, the cockerel I was told is about 7 months old.

 

[FloDoe]

I am just guessing but somewhere in the gene pool was a Pyle color or porcelain. I may be wrong color genetics still drive me bonkers.

View attachment 1458133 View attachment 1458134 View attachment 1458135 View attachment 1458136 View attachment 1458137 View attachment 1458138 View attachment 1458139 Hello, I just started reading this thread it seems to have some very smart Silkie lovers here. I am trying to figure out what color the 2 silkies I have taken in are. I am thinking the cockerel is blue partridge I was told he was red. In the past I have had blue and buff. I am sure this new guy will look much better once his tail grows back.
Is his comb dark enough?

 

[tjo804]

I have been on the bonkers road myself a bit,
one mans silver is another's gray, one mans gray is another mans lavender. And don't get me started on calico

I did know when I bought him that he was not a red. And his tail still needs sone TLC.

I am not sure he is an "Approved " color?

 

[NNYchick]

Is anyone able to describe the difference between a young cockerel and young pullet tail feathers. I’ve heard they are different in position but I can’t see it. This chick is 12 weeks old something about it says cockerel but nothing I can put my finger on. Any opinions?

 

[tjo804]

Bren and I are still studying I thought understanding the genetics would be difficult, it it a bit more so through a Silkie crest!

Lots of great info here thank you to all who have shared their knowledge. I wish more of the pics had been retained.

 

[NNYchick]

I have been on the bonkers road myself a bit,
one mans silver is another's gray, one mans gray is another mans lavender. And don't get me started on calico

I did know when I bought him that he was not a red. And his tail still needs sone TLC.

I am not sure he is an "Approved " color?

Those are some beautiful Silkies.
I hear you about color. There are so many project colors it gets confusing. Then you have someone say one thing but genetically you know it can’t be that color. The best way I have learned is I bought the ABA book of standard, and I am learning to recognize faults both in type and recognize colors. Every thing else is just “NSV” non standard variety. Now NSV is not a bad thing you can have a awesome bird and still show it as NSV. I just don’t get hung up on color anymore.
As far as gray vs silver- gray is the appropriate name but many refer to them as silver partridge because the pattern is similar to partridge except silver and gray instead of red and black.
Calico is very confusing project color. Some are working on calicos similar to a calico cat, while others are working on calicos that are similar to your boy, and other chicken breeds have that variety of calico.
Self blue aka lavender is a standard color and that is one color that I’ve seen misrepresented quite a bit.

 

[tjo804]

Thank you @NNYchick !

That was very helpful to me.

I have 3 indoor/ outdoor chickens right now and I have been reading this thread with them. They are not so helpful all the roo Bren keeps saying is " he can be a breeder" , I think that is puberty talking. Lol he does like the ladies! I caught him flirting with Wanda my Muscovy duck today. She just jumped in the pool and splashed around.

On a serious note. I have taken in those 2 Silkies I have been thinking about breeding for a couple years and now I am getting serious about it. I am checking all the links and reading reading reading. In my spare time I am dreaming about my breeder / BYC coop / complex that I am sure if I did it to my dream specs would have my neighbors pitching in for me to move . However I am wondering without a DNA test if I can somehow figure out the genetics.

I imagine that is a little like a kindergartner wanting to try her hand at calculus.

Great thread!

 

[NNYchick]

I’m not sure that you can dna test for genetics I know you can for sex and some of the companies will also test for disease. I really haven’t looked into it that much but haven’t heard Breeders mention genetics testing.
I have learned a lot on the Facebook group Silkie breeder chit chat and educational. What I like about that group as a posed to the general Silkie groups is a lot of the ABA master breeders are in that group and very helpful in answering questions and sharing thier experience and not afraid to say no that’s absolutely wrong. There is also an American Silkie Bantam Club has a website it cost $15 to join and have full access to the website but there are forums with discussions about standard etc and picture albums discussing all the different aspects of standards such as crest, combs, wings, cushion, toe spacing. It is also a good place to see whos who.
I’m still a newbie myself I just got my first Silkies last year. At first I wanted every color, I wanted to show and breed. Then I had to think realistically about what I wanted short term and long term. I decided showing was not in the plan right now as I have small children and the traveling and budget won’t allow for that. But it is important to me to breed for SOP. I’ve decided to focus on paint and maybe blue as I have room for 2 breeding pens. I am going to join 4h with the kids to get my feet wet with showmanship.