What's wrong with their feathers?

[Redcatcher]

It has to be genetically blue but visually nothing blue about him. I took him outside in the sun and checked his primaries. A very dark blue "black" bird will have some blue "leakage" (not the correct term for it but it seems to fit). This one does not and I have a true black bird nearby for comparison. I have two pullets and two cockerels.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

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Hmmmm. How shortly after Julie got the black hens did you get your eggs? Were they laying when she got them? Just curious if they were fertile from a previous roo.

If you somehow got a black that is actually split for silkie genes, you could get silkied black birds when you mate them together! But I'm skeptical, just from a genetic standpoint.

 

[Redcatcher]

This is from one of Julie's black hens mated with a silkied rooster. But genetically still would have to be blue I think. Splash x black. I would have to go back in the thread to figure on the time frame. I think it was a couple of months she had them.

 

[SteveH]

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Great looking birds! Pardon my asking, but how do you have a black one? Wasn't the cross between a splash silkied roo, and a black Ameraucana? The only option is blue chicks... Unless that's a SUPER dark blue. Just curious. Do you know what sexes you have yet?

My thoughts exactly.

X3 , but I hate to be always posting " not so positive " or , at the least , conflictive thoughts on this thread when I'm not even involved in the project . I suppose a test mating with a Silkie would be the only conclusive answer as to it possibly not being an F1 ........ but then it leaves doubts as to its siblings ancestory inspite of them being the right color .

 

[kathyinmo]

Well, remember the buff colored one that hatched? HOW did that happen?

These birds are just full of surprises!

 

[danischi24]

You know, these things do happen in genetics. I have seen some unexpected colors pop up when technically it's impossible. Welcome to the wonderful world of genes.

 

[Wynette]

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Word!

 

[Redcatcher]

Considering their broodermate is/was a gynandromorph, I can believe just about anything can happen.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Can we get together a list of people who have some of these birds and are working to make more of/improve them? It would be good for future reference so more people can get into breeding these beautiful birds

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

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You have a sheman chicken?

I see you also have a mosaic in your avatar picture.