unknown color of silkie

[acid_chipmunk]

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I didn't mean to start an argument. I'm new to chickens and silkies. I was just curious. Since I fell in love with the photos of silkies and wanted some, my search of colors, I've never seen this before. I did a google search and nothing came up on his coloring.

As far as breeding him ( and I don't want to start another argument) why would you recommend not breeding him? Is it a flaw in the show ring to have this leakage? I think it's beautiful coloring, but I also know that beautiful doesn't always qualify when showing. I didnt really plan on doing much showing, but may for 4-H for my kids next year. I wanted silkies specifically for pets.

No argument intended, just wanted to let you know what you have. We breed and show Silkies here. I would not recommend breeding him because of the leakage. It will pass on to his offspring and just make things a headache for you.

As for showing him, I wouldn't recommend that either, because he is not SOP worthy. The leakage does that. Blues need to be just that, blue. Nothing else. Even for 4-H with your kids, I personally wouldn't do it. I always feel bad looking at 4-H birds of kids who are so very proud of them, but the parent or 4-H leader hasn't taken the time to properly research what they have or want to show. Yes, he *could* win at a 4-H show, but your child would be VERY disappointed in an APA or ABA sanctioned show.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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I believe he could be a gold based Birchen. see his wing bow? its melanized, if he was a partridge this would have been emulananized(red coloring)


Or..

seen how silkies are all weird to look at.. he could be a solid blue that is leaking pheomelanin(groud color,red color)

That's my guess

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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I am going after what I see in him, not what is believe to be or not to be in silkies, E^R gold Birchen is what I see, or a leaky Blue based on Extended Black and Gold.

Do you see any color on the Wing Bay? no. there goes the Partridge theory

I think Dr Okimoto stated that many exhibition black silkies are likely E^R. This was a number of years ago.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Right now your talking apples and oranges. Nicalandia is mostly talking genetics; you're talking SOP. Not all E^R birds conform to the SOP for birchen. FWIW, I have some sizzles that ARE birchen.

Silkie breeders tend to select against birds with leakage, and I do not know anyone who is actually working on any crowwing pattern silkies, so getting a birchen who conforms adequately to the SOP is unlikely; however, it is not impossible.