What is color leakage? Why is it bad?

[Cloverr39]

I have black silkie roosters with gold and silver leakage. What does color leakage mean? I was told it gives you a better idea of their genetics, but how exactly? I just need someone to explain it to me. And why is it not wanted in breeding? I'm about to hatch a couple chicks from my black silkie roo with silver leakage + black hens. Any idea on how the chicks will look?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have black silkie roosters with gold and silver leakage. What does color leakage mean? I was told it gives you a better idea of their genetics, but how exactly? I just need someone to explain it to me. And why is it not wanted in breeding? I'm about to hatch a couple chicks from my black silkie roo with silver leakage + black hens. Any idea on how the chicks will look?

It’s considered a fault if you’re trying to breed for recognized Silkie colors. it is definitely a fault in showing. If you’re just breeding for fun and have a mixed color flock, then it doesn’t really matter.
As an example, I bred my paint Silkie rooster to a mixed partridge hen.
All the chicks were either black or paint but as they grew some of them showed leakage from the partridge mom.
Here are 2 of the pullets at 4 months of age.
One is completely black and the other one has the red leakage in the hackle feathers.

Leakage can come from many colors, so it can be difficult to say exactly where it came from in your roosters.
With your black rooster with silver leakage and your black hens you will likely get black chicks with silver leakage especially in the males.
It will also depend if your black hens are recessive for any other colors. For example in my solid black pullet above, you would not know she was carrying partridge unless she was bred to another bird that carries partridge or other similar colors.

 

[Cloverr39]

It’s considered a fault if you’re trying to breed for recognized Silkie colors. it is definitely a fault in showing. If you’re just breeding for fun and have a mixed color flock, then it doesn’t really matter.
As an example, I bred my paint Silkie rooster to a mixed partridge hen.
All the chicks were either black or paint but as they grew some of them showed leakage from the partridge mom.
Here are 2 of the pullets at 4 months of age.
One is completely black and the other one has the red leakage in the hackle feathers.View attachment 3060177View attachment 3060178
Leakage can come from many colors, so it can be difficult to say exactly where it came from in your roosters.
With your black rooster with silver leakage and your black hens you will likely get black chicks with silver leakage especially in the males.
It will also depend if your black hens are recessive for any other colors. For example in my solid black pullet above, you would not know she was carrying partridge unless she was bred to another bird that carries partridge or other similar colors.

Thank you! That helped me understand it a bit better.

 

[Cloverr39]

With your black rooster with silver leakage and your black hens you will likely get black chicks with silver leakage especially in the males.
It will also depend if your black hens are recessive for any other colors.

So, 5 silkie chicks hatched from my roo and hens. 2 are white and 3 are black. If the roo carries recessive white than do the chicks that came out black also carry it even if their mom possibly doesn't? Also one of the chicks has wings that stick out. The primary long feathers go over the secondary. Is it anything to worry about?

 

[Zoologist]

Personally I find it pretty and still plan to show my bird even if they have the leakage. I think it’s dumb to say theirs a fault in the bird because of some gold strands

 

[ColtHandorf]

Why would you show them with leakage? @Amer can explain how leakage effects the judging process, but I wouldn't bother unless you just want the experience.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Personally I find it pretty and still plan to show my bird even if they have the leakage. I think it’s dumb to say theirs a fault in the bird because of some gold strands

Expect to not do well then. I don't know if it's the same as rabbits, but in rabbits, bad/poor/wrong coloring is almost enough to DQ some breeds and the ones that aren't DQed are at the absolute bottom

 

[Geena]

I think it’s dumb to say theirs a fault in the bird because of some gold strands

It's a fault because there are certain standards that need to be adhered to in order to be considered a certain breed/variety/color. If everyone just bred, showed and judged by what they personally liked or disliked it would defeat the whole purpose.

 

[Amer]

Personally I find it pretty and still plan to show my bird even if they have the leakage. I think it’s dumb to say theirs a fault in the bird because of some gold strands

If you don’t like the Standard, why would you show your birds?

 

[Zoologist]

Why would you show them with leakage? @Amer can explain how leakage effects the judging process, but I wouldn't bother unless you just want the experience.

Expect to not do well then. I don't know if it's the same as rabbits, but in rabbits, bad/poor/wrong coloring is almost enough to DQ some breeds and the ones that aren't DQed are at the absolute bottom

It's a fault because there are certain standards that need to be adhered to in order to be considered a certain breed/variety/color. If everyone just bred, showed and judged by what they personally liked or disliked it would defeat the whole purpose.

If you don’t like the Standard, why would you show your birds?

Welp this blew up, correct I show my birds for fun at 4h shows. In fact I have a prize winning hen! I doubt they’ll mind the mixed in colors and if they do it’s worth the experience