What colour is this cockerel?

[Boonze]

I recently got a very young, friendly pekin cockeral - not sure if I can keep him yet as I'm not allowed roosters in the suburbs - but he's still quite young, not crowing and is already no-crow collared, so we'll see how he goes. He was set to be skinned / binned if I didn't pick him up as we all know what happens to excess cockerels, so better to give him a chance than assume he'll be excessively noisy (I know he's still a rooster but I've heard good things about the no crow collars, especially if started before they begin to crow)

If I don't have to get rid of him, I'd be interested to see what colour he is - the breeder thought maybe a blue with some Columbia markings? He's in the midst of a horrific moult at the moment so he looks awful quality, but he's from nice stock - should turn out nicely when he fills in. I've included pictures of his parents as well in case it helps.

Mum (one in front):


Dad:


From what I understand the father is also the son of the lavender hen.


Here's Basil (cockerel in question) - sorry for the bad pics, he won't stay still.





Again I'm not too fussed, but opinions would be nice. Have a couple of blacks, a buff, a blue and (probably, since they all live in one run) a light sussex bantam he'll be running with. Be interested to see what results of that!

 

[3riverschick]

Very interesting. The sire looks like a Red Shouldered Silver Duckwing. I owned one once. It's a bit "darker" version in the shoulder than a simple Silver Duckwing. I wonder what color cock the Lavendar hen was bred to in order to produce the Duckwing sire? I don't know the blue colors because I use the Silver gene instead with my Light Sussex.. Maybe your new cockerel is a Lav Red Shouldered Silver Duckwing? Looks like it doesn't have enough white for that. Let's see, wouldn't the Lav turn the Silver into Lav? Like in the Coronation Sussex? The maybe the Black has crept up over the Lav and turned it a "smoky grey? Just guessing. Do I see some Red on the shoulder poking thru?
Very interesting color program!
Best,
Karen

 

[Boonze]

Haha I don't know! If I can keep him this will be my first venture into breeding chooks for colour. Maybe I'll get a lav hen to put with him? Though I'm already quite stocked up on chooks as it is haha. He's such a cutie though, very friendly.

He is very scruffy at the moment though. I can't wait til he turns nice and round and fully-coloured!