What does smokey plumage color look like?

[hinkjc]

I agree it is far too dark to use for lavender breeding. I will sort them out of the lavender groups and into their own pen to see what comes of it on next breeding. I had originally started culling these, but I am curious what exactly they are and what they would produce. Probably nothing but it will be an interesting experiment.

 

[Henk69]

Quote:
Hi Tim,

Do you have a reference for that?
Thanks...

 

[Spangled]

hinkjc, I know this is an old thread, but did you get a chance to work further on the puzzle you presented below. Would love to hear an update if you have time. I have a chicken with a few rogue gray-pink feathers, which probably have nothing to do with smokey, but was intrigued by your gray chickens and was wondering what you figured out, if anything.

I've read that about smokey as well Sonoran. I'm just having a hard time figuring this one out. I'm sure the next mating will give me some answers, but thought I'd share for insight and education in case anyone else sees this.

It isn't blue..I'm certain of that. The feather shafts are white on the outside like lavenders. They have no dark lacing and the color is kind of a flat matt slate shade in person.

I've ruled out blue based on how the birds originated.

One breeding was from lav roo to pure black hens - produced all black offspring. If blue was present in the lav bird, I should have seen blue and black offspring, however they were only black.

I took those black offspring and mated siblings - some are this slate color, as well as lavender and black chicks.

I also took black offspring back to the original lav roo and got the same - some slate, some lavender and some black.

The first bird I pictured has a bit of a chocolate appearance when seen in person. This is in comparison to a bird I am looking at in the 21st Century Poultry Breeding book on page 111. Although I don't think it could be that either.

I don't think it can be dun/khaki either, but looking for insight on possibilities. Or is this the typical expression of some lavender birds, which are culled out due to dark color?

 

[Velvet Sparrow]

We got two 'Smokey Pearl' chicks from Tractor Supply about a week ago. Can't wait to see what they mature into!
Interesting tho--one chick has slatey dark grey legs/beak/facial skin, the other doesn't. But the one who doesn't, DOES have a tiny black heart marking on her left thigh! I hope she keeps it.

 

[E flowers]

I agree it is far too dark to use for lavender breeding. I will sort them out of the lavender groups and into their own pen to see what comes of it on next breeding. I had originally started culling these, but I am curious what exactly they are and what they would produce. Probably nothing but it will be an interesting experiment.

I'm actually interested in the Smokey or slate color in a potential new breed I thought up. What birds did you breed to get it? Also where did you get them?