Why do you get different colors when pairing same colored silkies?

[Smokin Silkies]

I was reading another thread where somebody asked what 2 'blues' would make. 2 answers were blue, black and splash could come out of it. Why is that? I have been searching and can't find an answer. I just ordered silkie hatching eggs and the breeders said they keep all silkies in same colored pens. My eggs were marked when they arrived as to what color they are. Im confused? If you pair 2 whites, will they make another color? I would eventually like to breed my silkies and was going to keep them in diff pens, but now Im just confused. Can somebody clear this color situation up? Thanks!

 

[TaLani]

This is from Ideal Hatchery's website. Read what it says in blue letters. Hope it helps ya.

https://secuservices.com/ideal/newideal/selectproduct.aspx?qty=1&ID=BLSB&Product=116

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Hello, Im sorry but I still dont get it. That just says that 2 blues could make blue, black or splash. I was just wondering how thats possible. Thanks for answering

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Obviously the 'Blues' must carry more than the 'blue' color gene. I wonder if other colors are like this also? White, black, buff. etc? Or if you mix a buff with a blue what you'd get. Hmmm, I wish I could find a site or something explaining what you would get if you paired different color silkies?

 

[Henk69]

You mean like a genetic calculator or something?

 

[patandchickens]

Blue is the result of having two different alleles for that gene -- let's call them 'B' and 'b'. (Remember, most critters that people have much interest in have two copies of each gene, one from each parent). If the cicken has gotten two copies of the B allele, i.e. genotype is BB, the chicken is black; if it's gotten two copies of the b allele i.e. genotype is bb, the chicken is splash; if however it gets a B from one parent and a b from the other, it is blue.

Thus, by definition all blue chickens (except self blue, that is a different color with different genetics) are Bb. So if you mate them, it is chance whether they contribute a B or a b to their offspring, thus the variation in offspring color.

Blue is the only common chicken color I know of that has incomplete dominance like this; however, you can still get mixed-color offspring in another (more common) scenario, that being when one allele is dominant over the other and both parent were 'hiding' a recessive allele.

Does that help any?

Pat

 

[cottagegarden]

Ok, as simply as I can put it, I hope. How you keep them would depend on what your goals are. If they are just pets, then it doesnt matter if the colors are all together, if you plan on selling your eggs or chicks or breeding you need to keep your colors separate. Blue Black and Splash are compatable colors that can be penned together and actually enhance each other. All chicks from these breedings will be blue, black or splash. White is dominate or recessive, but mostly will make all your chicks white, hiding the color of the genes of the other parent. The mixes can be pretty colors, too. There is a chart that predicts what you will get, but it would require some digging.
You can expect the following from these parings:

Blue/Black Splash Genetics

Blue X Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue X Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash
Splash X Splash = 100% Splash
Splash X Black = 100% Blue
Blue X Black = 50% Blue, 50% Black
Black X Black = 100% Black

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Henk, thats an interesting site, Ill have to play around with it. Thank you Pat, I understand a little better. They should make genetic charts that explain all of that and what you get if you pair 1 color with another. lol. That would be nice!

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Thank you Cottage. Thats alot of info I was looking for. Now if I could get the other colors...Buff, Grey, Partridge...lol As of right now, when they hatch they will just be pets. Down the road however, I might breed them or sell the eggs. I am trying to learn as much as I can about them before I ever consider breeding! Or if it is something I want to even get into. They are so beautiful!

 

[LilPeeps]

The other recognized silkie colors all breed true. Another color with an incomplete dominance is chocolate/khaki, where chocolate is the heterozygous and khaki is homozygous.