Silkies "Silver Gene" in white

[poultryinmotion]

I already have a beautiful white rooster. But a few months back I bought a beautiful "White" rooster for a very reasonable price for my white silkies. I was told it had the "Silver gene". If I look closely at this rooster especially on his back I see gray. The same color one would find around the kneck of a gray silkie. It is hard to see if you don't know what to look for.

Long story short now I have yellow chics (real whites) and I also have yellow chics with splotches of this "gray" on various parts of their bodies("Silver Gene"?) Heads and backs mostly. These "Silver Gene" chics are beautiful (All 5 toes are extremely full feathered) but even though I have a great deal of space to experiment. I would rather nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand and my mixed pen takes up most of my alloted space. My questions are................

Is this trait desirable?

Will these chics grow out of this trait?

Can it be bred out and still retain the feathering on the feet?

I don't know for sure how old the roo (silver gene) I bought is.

I have really nice smoker and I can't think of any better chicken suited for smoking than a silkie. Just kidding!.....well maybe not.....hmmmm

 

[hinkjc]

I agree with Jean. In my experience, these silvery ones feather in a much cleaner, crisper white.

 

[poultryinmotion]

OK here are pics of ("Silver white"?)chics of two that are less than 24 hrs old.

I can get each foot if you like. Toes spread too.
As for the Roo, its late and rainy. I will do what I can first light.

 

[robin416]

Chances are those babies with the gray color are boys. Every white chick I've hatched with that much gray was a cockeral.

There are some different thoughts on the color you're seeing, one is that's a double silver gene roo and the silver is expressing itself. The newest one is that it might be the lavender gene.

Hang on to that boy, put him with a black girl and see what color you get. You might be seeing the lavender gene.

 

[poultryinmotion]

Quote:
Funny you said Lavender! Long story short again but I also have two Black roos with lavender.... I also have chick pics from a black hen and one of these roos!! that will be my next post after I figure this one out!!! Like my signature says I am new to chickens....I am not new to genetics.... I have seven differnt colors of ring neck dove from one pair... but that is another long story short. It saddens me so few visit the dove section here.!.!.! I took pics of my doves just yeserday in hopes someone would like to see them or I could help someone. Would you like a dove or two!? Sorry moderator

Paul

 

[denasfarm]

Quote:
Dena You know us!!!!! Come a few blocks from your house and see in person!!!!!!!! You would love the geese you put us on!!!They are Great!! I can show you the roo too...I can stop by anytime in the afternoo if you and hubby would like to follow!!!

Well HEY!!!!

Are these related to mine?
I hatched these back in the Spring and they ALL turned out white.

These are Lavander. Someone ask about Lav chick pics:

Lavs with Quail (same age)

Last years Lavs, I only kept one of these girls Bubble

Bubble

Bubble last winter

 

[robin416]

If you all are in N. AL chances are that's my blood line with the white/gray chicks. They are spread far and wide in S TN and N. AL.

 

[denasfarm]

I wanna see!! Pics Please!

 

[TK Poultry]

honestly i read on here that the white gene masks so many colors!!! i would use the roo on something like my feather legged EE project i half started but i dont think that is a great trait to have

 

[poultryinmotion]

Quote:
I have a feathered legged EE Roo you want him he is yours. Mind you the feathering is very minimal. I guess a pic is in order.....