Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Obsessed With Silkies]

Thanks!
Sounds like splash then. Any ideas what colour chicks would pop out with Biscuit paired with one of them?
Chicks pic of the now 3 month olds, no spots, so splash then.
View attachment 3196639

Absolutely GORGEOUS babies @ForTheLoveOfSilkies!
What colored silkies did you pair to get those light colors?

 

[LynnaePB]

Thanks!
Sounds like splash then. Any ideas what colour chicks would pop out with Biscuit paired with one of them?
Chicks pic of the now 3 month olds, no spots, so splash then.
View attachment 3196639

I think it's going to be a little hard to guess given recessives that could be hiding on both sides being both are from a mixed color flock. I'm still not entirely sure what Biscuit is himself but I think probably silver/gold eb/eb (partridge) and probably at least heterozygous for Columbian or a Columbian like restrictor. I'm not sure if he has any blue involved or not, his tail looks pretty dark but it's hard to rule out dark blue just by looking at it.

I'm not exactly sure what e-allele splash silkies tend to be on but by down pattern I've seen in my blacks and blacks from paint I expect maybe they are more often based on ER (birchen) so I expect that blue and splash are based on the same. That e-allele isn't going to be very affected by Columbian and it is more dominant than eb (partridge). Being splash we know that they are homozygous for the blue gene and will always pass it onto offspring.

So my best guess is you'll get some blues (likely with leakage) and possibly some splash if Biscuit happens to be blue as well. You may possibly get some blue partridge like birds, grays that are blue as well (silver partridge) and even some splash based grays and partridge like birds if Biscuit is carrying blue. The ones that are grays/partridge like will be more affected if they get the columbian or columbian like restrictor from Biscuit so that will make the pheomelanin areas more extended and push back eumelanin to only certain areas similar to what you see on Biscuit. And of course recessive white being another common recessive floating around in mixed color flocks some recessive white chicks might be a slight possibility. There is a lot of potential for multiple colors but only the blue babies are something I think you will get for sure. That red leakage is likely to shine through especially on boys as well.

That's just my best guess anyway, I may not know what I am talking about and be completely off.

Oh and based on the down in the picture at least one of those babies looks like it might be more of a splash partridge like bird.....maybe the boy you have with less spots and the red on the wings?

 

[chickengr]

I'm just a total sucker for lighter colored babies!!!
Not sure if it's cuz I can clearly see their little faces and eyes or what but I LUV em all!!!

On another note...I had been told that sesame seeds help supply baby chicks with selenium they need if they are struggling with feet/leg issues.
Then in trying to help another hatcher on here was told Do Not give them sesame seeds.
Though I never received a reply as to if they were bad for em or just didn't supply em with the nutrients needed or what.
Any thoughts?

all of my hatched chicks get sesame seeds on day 1. it helped many with leg issues.

 

[chickengr]

I just found warnings that seseme seeds shouldn't be more than 10% of diet or they can cause too hard of stools in chickens.

If you give them to your birds, make sure they have grit available.

I have never given any grit to the chicks. sesame seeds are oily and there is no problem to digest it.

I put handfuls of sesame seeds to the chicks for the first 3 days. from day 4 I give them more chick starter.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Absolutely GORGEOUS babies @ForTheLoveOfSilkies!
What colored silkies did you pair to get those light colors?

They are hatched from shipped eggs, first ever ones I have purchased interstate and all 6 hatched! (1 died later on unfortunately due to predator)

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I think it's going to be a little hard to guess given recessives that could be hiding on both sides being both are from a mixed color flock. I'm still not entirely sure what Biscuit is himself but I think probably silver/gold eb/eb (partridge) and probably at least heterozygous for Columbian or a Columbian like restrictor. I'm not sure if he has any blue involved or not, his tail looks pretty dark but it's hard to rule out dark blue just by looking at it.

I'm not exactly sure what e-allele splash silkies tend to be on but by down pattern I've seen in my blacks and blacks from paint I expect maybe they are more often based on ER (birchen) so I expect that blue and splash are based on the same. That e-allele isn't going to be very affected by Columbian and it is more dominant than eb (partridge). Being splash we know that they are homozygous for the blue gene and will always pass it onto offspring.

So my best guess is you'll get some blues (likely with leakage) and possibly some splash if Biscuit happens to be blue as well. You may possibly get some blue partridge like birds, grays that are blue as well (silver partridge) and even some splash based grays and partridge like birds if Biscuit is carrying blue. The ones that are grays/partridge like will be more affected if they get the columbian or columbian like restrictor from Biscuit so that will make the pheomelanin areas more extended and push back eumelanin to only certain areas similar to what you see on Biscuit. And of course recessive white being another common recessive floating around in mixed color flocks some recessive white chicks might be a slight possibility. There is a lot of potential for multiple colors but only the blue babies are something I think you will get for sure. That red leakage is likely to shine through especially on boys as well.

That's just my best guess anyway, I may not know what I am talking about and be completely off.

Oh and based on the down in the picture at least one of those babies looks like it might be more of a splash partridge like bird.....maybe the boy you have with less spots and the red on the wings?

Thanks! As always your very thorough with information!
I'm hoping all the hens will start laying soon and give me some fertile eggs! Another month and it's the start of hatching season!!

 

[Silkiesaz]

Me and Pickles cuddling. He doesn't like to admit that he likes me.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Me and Pickles cuddling. He doesn't like to admit that he likes me. View attachment 3198342View attachment 3198344

Sweet

 

[Silkiesaz]

Sweet

Thank you! He has definitely gotten more cuddly. I used to never be able to catch him, I dubbed him the "Feral Silkie." Now I can catch him multiple times a day!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Thank you! He has definitely gotten more cuddly. I used to never be able to catch him, I dubbed him the "Feral Silkie." Now I can catch him multiple times a day!

That's good he let's you now! He's a handsome fellow!