The American Paint Silkie

[Sonoran Silkies]

Some have "holes" in the pigment (which can include holes in the eye colour--Deb pointed that out to me on birds that did not go to the show--seriously strange looking). Most noticeable holes are on the foot bottoms.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
YOU WERE THERE? How come we didn't get a chance to meet and say "Hi!"?

Suze

Yes I was!

I was in the sales area A LOT! Also by the Langshans! I bet I walked both buildings 12+ times. There was not enough time for this show...it needs to be at LEAST a week!

 

[ChooksChick]

Thanks for posting this! You've solved a mystery I've been working on propagating in a different breed, and now I understand why the color looks as it does- I'm up to 5 birds, one is red and black paint, the rest are paint just like this.

 

[JenEric Farms]

Quote:
The "holes" in the eye color, what do they consist of color wise?

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
This is interesting. I have seen other birds with loss of pigment on the feet, most noticably Splash, which then fills in, but is still noticable if you look closely. I had a Black hen once, that was from a Master breeder that was black as far back in breedings as it could be, and she had true white bottoms to her feet. Everything else on her was beetle green sheen black. She passed that trait onto a few of her chicks. So the pigment distrabution thing I find to be interesting to say the least. Can't wait to see where this color progesses to in the future! Good luck ladies!

 

[JenEric Farms]

Do the chicks look like California white chicks or are they a solid color:

California White chick

 

[debstein]

Here's an image of a pullet with the pigment holes on the soles of her feet. Not all the paints have this and crossing on black seems to really help get rid of it. I am not sure that Judy's Adam was actually the X factor, more likely he was incidental. From talking with Sigrid, she thinks and I agree, that the silkies Judy bought from Terry Campbell (hope I'm right on the name) were dominant white and THAT was the factor that eventually produced Judy's first paint silkies. Judy has done a tremendous job in breeding and working to develop this variety, and has partnered with several breeders to further the progress and get them recognized. However, we still don't understand the genetics and that is the first step in moving toward recognition and acceptance.
To answer the questions I've read so far.....you want to breed to black for several reasons. One, to improve type. Judy has had a relatively closed flock for about 5 years, so new blood is necessary for improvement. Sigrid says that breeding to black helps to keep the color spots strong. In my test breedings, I had 2 breeding pens: 1 with a Paint roo and black hens, and the other with what I thought were dominant wht hens also with a black roo. Both pens produced 50% paints, 25% blues or blacks, and 25% whts or whts that eventually produced weakly colored paint spots. Here are a couple of my F1s:

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
Thanks Deb for posting the pics!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Now THAT's what I'm talking about!! Lovely birds, Deb!!

 

[The Lisser]

Fascinating thread!!!

Thanks for sharing!