Silkies are the collection of about ALL possible singularities in 1 chicken !!! A collage of the differrent Silkie-coloration discribed in this webpage, all of them are recently breeded and of better quality.  Black Blue Splash Grigioperla gold Silver Red Buff Cuckoo Platenbont white MOROSETA come li alleviamo Almost all you wanted to know about Silkie colors you can find here : For the beginner interested in basic genetics terms read first the 5 theoretical explanation to can follow completely the used informations. Theoretical basic knowledge Basics Color Genetics & Common Color Crosses Breeding ground-colors : E/E eWh/eWh eb/eb Just something in between : D. & T. Il Nostro Progetto qui disponibile nella qualità adatta ma soltanto nella piccola quantità ! Moreheads here available in suitable quality but only in small quantity ! disponible dans la bonne qualité mais dans le nombre limite beschikbaar in goede kwaliteit maar in beperkt aantal danny@zijdehoenders.be TF GSM 0032 474 391 332 Moroseta "SUPERCALZATTA TESTA NERA" Argento the presentation 2011 is ready for visit Le mie nuove colorazioni e forme in Moroseta (we have them in 3 variaties : Dark or BlackSilver, Grey or BlueSilver, Light or WhiteSilver) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Website user information :If you like more reading all in one page than scroll downward, click on the several (blue) links and use "backspace" to come back on this top-page, or use the Basics about chicken color genetics inheritance in Silkies ;-) on top & below of each sub-page, or use the content structure of the home-page t&dcreating on top/below of each page, to enter in each particular specialized and detailed sub-page from where you can go back using "backspace" or the on top & below of each page placed links to the "home-page" or "top-page" . _____________________________________________________________________________________ This page is a part of : contact via : danny@zijdehoenders.be tel. : 0032 474 391 332 T&D are membres of :  and in a cooperation with : http://www.moroseta.com contact via : tundec2007@gmail.com tel. : 0039 392 926 8134 My point of view on theoretical knowledge brought into the practice breeding.T&D are members of : and some other friends Silkie breeders. This NOT explain how pigments & genes work, this only let see some breeding results and give them a possible practical explanation ! For the better and complete genetic explanations how pigments & genes work look the "genetica dei polli" by Tünde Csanadi. (with photographycal examples of Silkies breeded by my friends and myself) all photo's have copyrights by there owners.  This is my personal attempt to speak about breeding Silkie colors, nothing more nothing less. (about the normal pure color-breeding but also about the accuration of less common things in our hobby-breedings). You should interpretate this page as standing with both feet in the poultry and the theory in the back of the head. Never be afraid to try out some idea's with a little luck sometimes accure a wonderful "accidental" result. T&D are fans of Chicken Genetica  Before starting we must know : the same genetic recipe works not always the same (giving the same results) in all races. MUCH depends on what the "ground-color" is stipulated on in every race independently. Silkies and there genetic color recipes are NO exception on this !!! most depends on the TONALITY in our 2 only excisting COLOR COLOR PIGMENTS they are very much influneced by the acting or interacting or not-acting of several "reinforcers" and "diluters", the most common are : as "Mh" (Mahogany) needs "s+" (gold or the red pigment) to can do is reinforcing work as "Ml" (Melanotic) needs "E" (black or the black pigment) to can do is intensifingwork same for as "Di" (Dilute) needs "s+" (gold or the red pigment) to can do is diluting work as "Bl" (Blue) needs "E" (black or the black pigment) to can do is thinning work nor Mh as Ml as Di as Bl contain pigment, they are are only Reinforcers or Diluters of pigments ! T&D are also members and fans of :  Just registrate (it is for free) and become also a member. _____________________________________________________________________________________ PART 1 Because if we not consider these 4 genes entwined, we will always missing the point. In general  Since there are only 2 color-pigments, Black (eumelanin) and Red (pheomelanin) as we can see in the original Bankiva fowl E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus Black is determinate from the E-locus and on is best as E/E reinforced with Ml/Ml resulting in deep extended black with a green shine. Red is determinate from the S-locus and on is best as s+/s+ reinforced with Mh/Mh resulting in a deep extended red with a violet shine. When the Ml (Melanotic) Black enhancer and/or the Mh (Mahogany) Red reinforcer are in there original form (with a "+") we never result in totaly Black and/or totaly Red phenotype colors. Here we can see 2 of the better representants, one of a Red Silkie and one of a Black Silkie : Photo's of Louise   Red : eWh/eWh Co/Co s+/s+ ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh - Black : E/E S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ or eb/eb (these with gray under fluff) Each coloration (and each race) have his own singularities in breeding to perfection (with selection). Singularity in Red Silkies : Red, several times created in Silkies but now finaly brought to recognation with RED under fluff. Photo of Louise  Red : eb/eb Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ or (Ml/ml+) Mh/Mh (gray under fluff) (as in Germany) Even the "under fluff" can tell us something about the presence of a gene and of is quantity & quality. Photo of Louise Photo of Simone Photo of Louise    real Red under fluff = eWh/eWh light Gray under fluff = eWh/eb dark Gray under fluff = eb/eb Singularity in Buff Silkies : Red diluted to Buff, there is more needed than only "Di/Di" to eliminate the last bits of black ! Photo of Louise  Also the tonality of the Buff coloration diverse from pale to intense , on what genetic reason? Photo's of Louise   Singularity in lavender Silkies : Black diluted to lavender, with lav/lav mutation, is one way to dilute black omong several ways ! Photo of Tünde  Photo's of Danny   Singularity in Black Silkies : The coloration tonality differences can have more than one reason. Photo's of Louise and Rachele   E/E S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ - E/E s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Here is good to see the first hen tonality of the black colorations, that is genotypical "E/E", can be intense black when present "Ml" the coloration tonality of the other hen is more pale black, with gold outbreak in the neck, this is the caused by the absence of "Ml" An other example of coloration tonality (quantity & quality) difference, here in Black (E/E - E/eb) (There is a little disturbance in the real color by the digital photo but in reality it is very good to see) Photo's of Danny   Black (intense) : E/E S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ - Black (paler) : E/eb S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ When we want to understand the basics about chicken color genetics we have to make ourselves a little habituated to the frequently used terms in the explanations about the different inheritance ways. There are several ways in which the color-genes act and interact with each other : Dominant, Epistasis, incomplete Dominant, recessivity are the most common. Since there are only 2 color-pigments, Black
(eumelanin) and Red (pheomelanin) as we can see in the original Bankiva fowl. Bankiva partridge color is the bases on wich all color-variants are made of and is the so called genetic "wildcolor"  All alleles are original (with a "+") e+e+ co+co+ db+db+ pg+pg+ ml+ml+ Cha+Cha+ mh+mh+ di+di+ Ig+Ig+ cb+cb+ i+i+ bl+bl+ Lav+Lav+ C+C+ Mo+Mo+ b+b+ s+s+ Choc+Choc+ (males) or b+/- s+/- Choc+/- (females) (the sex-linked genes) The coloration of this chickens feathers is determinate by only two pigments. The phenotype-color of our chickens is NOT made of ONE gene but of SEVERAL genes that act and interact in different ways along their composition and along the different mutations on the different loci. the red-pigment
express itself mainly by the s+ allels (gold) it can take different
forms of tonality from the very light variant as wheaten (eWh) to the very dark variant mahogany (Mh) the black-pigment express itself mainly by the E allels (black) it can take different forms of tonality from the very light variant as lavender (lav) to the very dark variant melanotic (Ml) When we want to speak about the color-inheritance rules of our chickens we MUST always mention the E-locus and the S-locus at the same time, this is important for 2 reasons : - when the E-locus is for example "E/E" (pure = homozygote) Extanded Black, this mutated gene alone, without the presence of a black melaniser as "Ml", are NOT strong enough itself to cover completely the red-pigment of "s+", this gold will come to the surface especially in the cocks necks and wings; - when the E-locus is for example "E/eb" (unpure = heterozygote) Black, this single black allel, without the presence of a black melaniser as "Ml", is surely NOT strong enough and will let come ALWAYS visible the expression of the "s+" (gold). Photo's of Rachele  Black (with gold) : E/E s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ - Black (with gold and red) : E/E s+/s+ ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh It
is also important to mention at the same time in what way the
black-melaniser "Ml" and the red-reinforcer "Mh" are present, in mutated
form
"Ml/Ml" or "Ml/ml+" or in his original form "ml+/ml+" as also for the
mutated form "Mh/Mh" or Mh/mh+" or in his original form "mh+/mh+",
because the outcome of the colors in the offspring will be always
influenced by them whatever is there composition. To be genetical theoretical complete I also mention which is a diluter, restrictor, pattern and absence. Chickens have 2 kinds of pigment that define their plumage color. The black (sometimes darkbrownish) pigment eumelanin, and the red (sometimes yellowbrownish) pigment pheomelanin. In wildtype (Bankiva) chickens the groundcolor is redyellow with blackdarkbrown, it is called "gold". By red enhancers this gold can be boosted to a (dark) red color. One groundcolor of a chicken is pheomelanin. When this is absent it is called "silver" which looks white. The common silver-gene allows the expression of some red features like salmon breast or red shoulders. § Until now we only spook about the enhancers or reinforcers of eumelanin en pheomelanin but to be complete we must also mention the Diluters of both color-pigments. -Eumelanin diluters dilute eumalin as is : Blue (Bl/bl+), Dominant White (I/I or I/i+) and is variants as Smokey (I^s/I^s), Khaki (I^d/I^d) and Dun (I^d/i+) and there is the sex-linked chocholate (choc/choc * choc/-) and (a double diluter) lavender (lav/lav) that dilutes aswell eumelanin and also pheomelanin (ex. Isabel). -Pheomelanin diluters do not dilute eumelanin and are : Dilute (Di/Di), Inhibitor of Gold (ig/ig), Champagneblonde (Cb/Cb). 2§ There are also black-restricters as Coumbian (Co/Co) and Darkbrown (Db/Db). Examples are Columbian chickens as well in white as in red and gold. § There are complex pattern combinations as (Pg/Pg+Ml/Ml+Co/Co) and can be added (Db/Db). Examples are lacing (concentric pencilling, double and single lacing), spangling (not mottling) and transverse pencilling (autosomal barring). § Absence of all pigment delivers a white color. Dominant white (Inhibitor I) inhibits mainly black pigment, rendering the pattern white. Recessive white (Colorless c) inhibits both pigmentkinds, but could leak red. Mottled (mo) is a temporary/local inhibition of both pigments, especially at the feathertip. The sexlinked Barring factor (B) inhibits pigmentdepositing from time to time, giving a barred pattern. But remember : the same genetic recipe works not always the same (giving the same results) in all races. MUCH depends on what the "ground-color" is stipulated on in every race independently. Chickens are NOT as flowers these can have Red/Red X White/White = Red/White expressing as Rose CONCLUSION Not ONE gene but of SEVERAL genes that act and interact in different ways along their composition. 1. We look first the "ground-color" = what genes are on the E-locus; 2. Is this "ground-color" reinforced = which are the alleles on the Ml-locus; 3. The "ground-color" basis = is it the original or the mutation on the S-locus; 4. Is this "ground-color" basis reinforced = which are the alleles on the Mh-locus. These 4 genes all together will show us the exact tonality color in the phenotype. The following tabel is my personal opinional view on the genetic classification how genes works !! All 18 loci in one table : E - Ml - Mh - S - Di - ig - Cb - Bl - I - choc - lav - Co - Db - Pg - mo - c - B - cha They all can take different forms resulting in different phenotypes and I classifie them as follow : (5 groundcolor stipulators, 3 reinforcers, 2.1/2 phenotypical variants, 10 diluters, 2 ristricters, 1 pattern-complexe and 4 inhibitors). Chicken feather colors concist out of 2 color-pigments only: RED-pigment expressing as : and BLACK-pigment expressing as : YELLOW/RED BLACK/DARKBROWN   First we have the 5 big "genetic families" that stipulate the "ground-color" places of the feather colors, (there where several sub-families but these are not more counted, as "ey" recessive wheaten "es" speckled and "ebc" buttercup) these 2 color-pigments are determinated in all five E-locus genes in more or less quantity & quality. Depending based on gold or Silver these 5 big "genetic families" show complete different phenotypes : Extended Black Birchen Wheaten Asiatic partridge Bankiva E/E ER/ER eWh/eWh eb/eb e+/e+ hens based on gold, as you can see here under these based on Silver have complete different phenotype  Extended Black Birchen Wheaten Asiatic partridge Bankiva E/E ER/ER eWh/eWh eb/eb e+/e+ hens based on Silver, as you van see here above these on gold have a complete different phenotype Pictures from the chickencolorcalculator of Henk the "enhancers" and the "reinforcers" Melanotic charcoal Mahogany Ml/Ml or Ml/ml+ and ml+/ml+ cha/cha Mh/Mh or Mh/mh+ and ml+/ml+ (black head and neck) is a less common enhancer on e+, s+ and Ml / on e+, S and Ml on eb, Co and cha on e+, s+ and Mh / on e+, S and Mh    the ground-color of a chicken is "gold". When this is absent it is called "Silver" which looks white. These "color" variants are determinated in the S-locus gene in more or less quantity & quality, gold Golden Silver s+/s+ * s+/- S/s+ S/S * S/- on eb/eb only cocks on eb/eb Here, as you can see there is NO "Ml" or "Mh" only ml+/ml+ and mh+/mh+  The 2.1/2 variant give complete different looking phenotype in the 5 different genotype of the E-locus (2.1/2 is my way of saying this gene is a sex-linked gene because hens are hemizygote in it, s+/- or S/-) There are to many phenotypes to show here but just try it out in the chickencolorcalculator, he is free to use on the internet ! Not covered : autosomal red, some recessive melanizers, the unknown black inhibitors in the Buff phenotype (tail and wings). Simplified/omitted : crossing with extended black often causes persistent silver/gold leakage in hackle and saddle of cockerels. Note : Illustrations are meant as a basic indication of the phenotype. Text description should not be ignored! Once we considered these color-consisting genes (on E- and S-loci) with the 2 enhancer genes (on Ml- and Mh-loci) we look the other loci: these other genes are NOT color-genes but factors as that accentuate the phenotype: DILUTERS: of the red-pigment tonality of the black-pigment tonality Diluter inhibitor Blonde Blue Smokey khaki Dun chocolate lavender Di/Di ig/ig Cb/Cb Bl/bl+ Is/Is Id/Id Id/i+ choc/choc *choc/- lav/lav (Pg/Pg + Ml/Ml + Co/Co) can be added Db/Db BLACK-RESTRICTERS: Columbia Dark brown Co/Co Db/Db PATTERNER-COMPLEXES: ABSENCE OF COLOR: motteled Dominant White recessive white Barred mo/mo I/I or I/i+ c/c B/B or B/b+ * B/- (inhibits temporary/local) (inhibits temporary/local)   Photo's kippenencyclopedie.nl Again, there are other ways to classifie these accentuating factors but this is my personal own practical classification. If we had to classifie the phenotypical colors of or Silkies in a genotypical tabel I should do it as this : The E-locus variants for Silkies, only 4 families : ( there was a sub-familie but it is not more counted, "ey" recessive wheaten ) E/E (optional E/ER - E/eWh - E/eb) Extended Black : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ Blue : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- Ml/Ml or ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/bl+ Splash : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/Bl lavender : E/E s+/s+ * s/- or S/S * S/- Ml/Ml or ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ lav/lav Cuckoo : E/E S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ B/B or B/b+ * B/- Platenbont : E/E S/S * S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ I/? (mo/mo)!? white : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c (Bl/bl+,Bl/Bl,lav/lav,B/B or B/b+*B/-,I/?) * chocolate : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ choc/choc * choc/- * ER/ER (optional ER/eWh - ER/eb) * Birchen (Silver) : ER/ER S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ * Blue Birchen (Silver) : ER/ER S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/bl+ * white : ER/ER s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c (Bl/bl+,Bl/Bl,lav/lav,B/B or B/b+*B/-,I/?) eWh/eWh (optional eWh/eb) Buff : eWh/eWh Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh Di/Di Red : eWh/eWh Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh (red under fluff) white : eWh/eWh s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c (Bl/bl+,Bl/Bl,lav/lav,B/B or B/b+*B/-,I/?) eb/eb gold Asiatic partridge : eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- Pg/Pg ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Silver Asiatic partridge : eb/eb S/S * S/- Pg/Pg ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Red : eb/eb Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ or (Ml/ml+) Mh/Mh (gray under fluff) white : eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c (Bl/bl+,Bl/Bl,lav/lav,B/B or B/b+*B/-,I/?) Of each Silkie-phenotype of the above putted genotypes is a photo inserted in this page ! * are Silkie colors to be ("under constructions") ! hobbynames in grayish = excist but not recognized (yet) hobbynames in bluish = sex-linked genes factors in greenish = optional hidden genes As you can see there are NO Silkies based on the e+/e+ variant, as you also can see white c/c is possible on aswell the E/E, *ER/ER, eWh/eWh and eb/eb, that is why we say under the white phenotype is always hidden and other "goundcolor" that can and will come to the surface in a done "colorcross" ! Here were putted all E-locus genes (aswell as all other loci-genes) in homozygote / hemizygote form. But they all can take heterozygote forms also, example for the E-locus : (than our Silkie will be named unpure for there ground-coloration) E/*ER - E/eWh - E/eb = (heterozygote) but a black standard, phenotype depending on the other loci; *ER/eWh - *ER/eb = (heterozygote) but a Birchen standard, phenotype depending on the other loci; eWh/eb = (heterozygote) but a Buff standard, phenotype depending on the other loci. * here is putted also the "ER" because is under construction but is not effective yet ! Simple decision for Silkies and his acting and interacting genes : (are not counted the Platenbont and chocolate because not yet recognized) Only a few things and a few genes we need to considerate to know and understand better what we breed in SILKIES. As can be seen in the above genotypes our Silkies have actual 3 ground-colors : "E" - "eWh" and "eb". These 3 ground-colors can be based on only 2 basis : "s+" and "S". The 2 excisting pigments have each 1 reinforcer : pheomelanine have "Mh" and eumelanine have "Ml". The 2 excisting pigments have each 2 diluters : pheomaline have "Di" and "lav" and eumelanine have "Bl" and "lav". The pattern complex : "Pg-Ml-Co" play is role on the ground-color "eb" mostly. The inhibiting of color completely or local and temporary is caused by "c" and "B". Only 3 ground-colors, 2 basis, 2 reinforcers, 3 diluters, 1 pattern-complex and 2 inhibitors are the common 13 genes in SILKIES. Each of them have very typical signatures or circumstances they appear in so they tell us if they are present or not. Is good to see especially in "one-day/week-chicks" , but this is an other story !! Just some examples Photo's of Tünde and Louise Red on "eb"= stripes on back Red on "eWh"= no stripes on back an other example Photo's of Danny   white on "s+"= yellow fluff white on "S"= gray fluff Photo's of Louise en Tünde Red on "eWh"= yellow toes Buff on "eb"= gray toes an example of Cucula Photo's of Tünde white dot = Cucula no dot = Black an example of Columbia Black dot on white = Co Black dot on red = Co an example of Patridge Photo's of Tünde and Danny Silver Partridge "eb" on "S" left: dark version with "B", right: light version with "Co". There are many other examples in one day/week-chicks that can indicate us several interesting pieces of information. Photo's of Danny All are Silver Partridges but all have different tonalities ! examples of dilutions
of Black Photo's
of Danny lavender=E/E
lav/lav Splash=E/E Bl/Bl
Blue=E/E Bl/bl+ Black=E/E bl+/bl+ My personal intrepretation on the effect of ground-colors and certain characterisations : What genes could/should be looked for in our common Silkies on basis of what we know and see? We can count our Silkies in 3-BIG E-locus families (each of them have is own typical characthers) - Silkies with ground-color "E" (which match very good with eumelanine=black pigment) should be unicolors as Black, Blue, Splash, pearlgray (they are primely on eumelanine). Also the Cucula is based on "E" ground-color. This "E" ground-color can be based on s+ (gold) or S (Silver), when the ground-color is NOT reinforced by "Ml" than that gold or Silver will can come to the surface in necks and wings, when the gold is darker red than it is reinforced by "Mh". Some typical characthers on "E" are : eyes, feet, comb, skin are mostley dark. Photo of Tünde Photo of Angela A lavender on "E" : dark face, eyes, comb A Black on "E" NO "Ml" : dark face, eyes, comb - Silkies with ground-color "eWh" (which match NOT good with eumelanine=black pigment but match very good with pheomelanine=red pigment) are normaly also unicolors as Red and Buff (they are primely on pheomelanine). This "eWh" ground-colors mostley based on s+ (gold) can be reinforced by "Mh" to become the Red Silkie or when this Red is diluted by "Di" we become Buff. Other genes also play a role as "Co" for distributing. Some typical characthers on "eWh" are : eyes, feet, comb, skin are mostley lighter. Photo of Louise When based on gold-partridge mostly NOT reinforced by "Mh". When based on Silver-partridge mostley NOT reinforced by "Ml". Other genes influence the phenotype, mainly the pattern-complex "Pg-Co-Ml". *Some typical characthers on "eb" are : eyes, feet, comb, skin can be lighter and can be darker. Photo of Tünde and Louise A Buff on "eb" : dark face, eyes, comb A red on "eb" : red face and comb dark eyes As can be seen on "eb" both directions are possible Photo's of Tünde and Danny Both possese the "Morehead" gene "rb" in a pale form Photo of Danny  * recessive white "c/c" is mostley on eb/eb but can also on E/E and on eWh/eWh.
Photo of Tünde Two things we may not forget in all this, pheomelanine need always s+ and eWh and eb cocks show darker because of there testosterone ! For an explanation about this male hormones phenomenon look ASA-newsletter 8 Autosomal red "Ar+" (only a problem for Silver-breeders) These different phenotypes are weird in this "unknown" red. It can only be shown on silvers to prove its not Mh nor s+ . But it should be a sin not to mention this "something", it is not really officially recognized but is undoubtedly present in our silkies the "Autosomale red". it is a kind of red that make his presence on both sexes and it act completely independly from "s+" and it is not "Mh", meaning a pure Silver bird S/S or S/- can show this in his phenotype. It is something very tough and only with selection it can be avoided. Photo's Danny  Wildtype Ar+ would result in red-leftovers in shoulders of homozygote silver duckwing cocks. If this phenomene Autosomal red have
something to do with the salmon-red as in "e+" and "eWh" chickens is
unknown because no reseach Sometimes difficult to say with which unwanted red we are strugeling !! * Sex-linked red "s+" reinforced by "Mh" (can give also problems for white-breeders)
eb/eb s+/- and Mh/Mh eb/eb S/- and ar/ar inhibiting of "c/c" but this is something completely different than the red-leftovers of the Ar+ on silver colored Silkies. Silvers and whites should be free of red-leftovers as on both examples on the right. _____________________________________________________________________________________ PART After considering the general entwined rules we can go on with the common inheritance ways. In common For the better and complete genetic explanations look the "genetica dei polli" by Tünde Csanadi. There are several ways in which the color-genes act and interact with eachother: Dominant, Epistasis, incomplete Dominant, recessivity are the most common. First example : We give an example of a color cross that is frequently done in the hobby breeding. This example will show us what Dominance means. BLACK (homozygote Dominant Black) X white (homozygote recessive white) E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus C-locus X E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus C-locus E/E s+/s+ ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/C+ eb/eb s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c or or lav-locus lav-locus Lav+/Lav+ lav/lav We not need to consider ONLY the mutated genes because ALL genes will effect the outcome ! Resulting in : = E/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c or Lav+/lav = 100% Black phenotype (unpure E-locus) and carrier of one white allel (with possible outbreak of gold). or and carrier of one lavender allel Photo of Rachele This is only an example of a black genotype that in the phenotype as the cock here with NO melanising of "E" by "Ml", so the gold can break out specific in the neck and on the wings of this cocks. When the gold is darker red this means there is reinforcing of "s+" by "Mh". The darkness of the black increases by the amount of melanisers "Ml" = the decrease of the gold"s+" The one "E" allel is DOMINANT over the "eb" allel and there is only one mutated recessive "c" allel (recessive genes need both alleles to express in the phenotype) therefore all the offspring will be black and carrier of one "eb" (Asiatique partridge) allel and carrier of one "c" (recessive white) allel. Special remarke also here ! "E" is a dominant gene, "eb" is a recessive gene so that one E-allel MUST dominate that one eb-allel, what it does, otherwise the cock on the photo would show a white wing triangle (what is typical for eb-cocks). Than this would be co-Dominance ! BUT nevertheless there is no black melaniser (Ml) to reinforce the E-allel and that "E" alone will not be strong enough to cover the red pigment "s+", this gold will come to the surface. It will be just (yellow) gold and not darker red because there is also no red reinforcer (Mh). As you can see a simple color cross as a "Black" cock with a "white" hen can implicate some thinking !! It even implicate MUCH more thinking and calculating when more genes have mutated alleles. Here comes in very handy the "chickencolorcalculator" of Henk (that is free to use on the internet). Even more processor power is needed to calculate the outcome when several genes are heterozygote and/or different in cock and hen. Just try it out in the calculator and you will experience that the possible outcome multiplies enormous with only a few mutated alleles extra. CONCLUSION : try to breed as pure (homozygote) as possible because breeding pure is predictible, breeding unpure (heterozygote) will give nothing else but (on)wanted surprices. For an explanation about the different E-locus combinations look ASA-newsletter 6 Second example : Now an example with on the first view same color cross as in the first example. This example will show us what recessivity means. BLACK (heterozygote Dominant Black) X white (homozygote recessive white) E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus C-locus X E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus C-locus E/eb s+/s+ ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/C+ eb/eb s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c or or lav-locus lav-locus Lav+/Lav+ lav/lav Notice there is only ONE allel different and most of the times this is not visible in the phenotype! When we do such color crosses we do this the best with chickens we know (where we breeded with for a few generations by ourselves or by a trusted other breeder) because if not we will become nothing but surprices and quick will be tought that the genetic rules NOT work correctly ! But beleave me they work correct when applicated in the correct way. These rules are the result of many and long scientific rechearches, so we hobby-breeders with or many modern possibillities now, we should use them good.Resulting in : = E/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c or Lav+/lav = eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c or Lav+/lav = 50% Black phenotype (unpure E-locus "E/eb") and carrier of one white allel (with outbreak of gold). = 50% Asiatic partridge phenotype (pure E-locus "eb/eb") and carrier of one white allel. or and carrier of one lavender allel Photo of Tünde  This chicken is a homozygoot RECESSIVE mutation on the E-locus = Asiatic (gold) partridge Silkie. If in the above cross the cock S-locus had been "E/eb S/S ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/C+ or Lav+/Lav+" than half of the 50% offspring had been pure Asiatic Silver partridge hens (because of the sex-linkage of the S-locus genes) "eb/eb S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ (C+/c or Lav+/lav)" instead of pure Asiatic gold partridge as in the hen on the photo of Tünde "eb/eb s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ (C+/c or Lav+/lav)". Just something in between about one of my passions in Silkie-breeding: Silkies with "Moreheads" Silver-plated Photo's of Danny   Asiatic SILVER partridges eb/eb S/S * S/- (Co/co+) (Pg/pg+) ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ (C+/c or Lav+/lav) Both will give there chicks a "Co"-allel what will result in an extra wave of Silver-plate. (which is to see in this cock and hen, one Co-allel, phenotypes because they are yet more "whiter" than Asiatic Silver Partridges should be) Photo's of Danny Detail photo's of the "morehead" probebly caused by "rb/rb" The "moreheads" But this is an other story : Both have something special ! They both have the "morehead" (black ciuffo and beard). This is NOT caused by the "cha/cha" gene because than also the neck should have been black. In these cases the neck stayed Silver (or gold) colored. The reason for this is "rb/rb" (a not catalogued assembling of recessive black genes) that leave black pigment on the ciuffo and beard. (As well on cocks as on hens). The much more lighter breast of the hen here is caused by "Co/co+" (Columbia) out of the combination of genes (Co-Ml-Pg) that is frequently on "eb"-gene, as I explained also in complex pattern combination. Is something we will try to stabilze in our breeding project : "Zilvervloot" Photo's of Danny    The selection is not finished yet, nor in shape nor in color. We are now at the third generation and we have still four or five generations to go before we are where we want to be ! for the full story see : Moreheads and http://www.zijdehoenders.be Third example : Now we go on with the F1 (first generation) brother X sister as out of the second example. This example will show us what Epistasis means. BLACK (heterozygote Dominant carrying one "c") X Black (heterozygote Dominant carrying one "c") E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus C-locus X E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus C-locus E/eb s+/s+ ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c E/eb s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c or or lav-locus lav-locus Lav+/lav Lav+/lav This is what is called a "backcrossing" a pure inbreeding cross. Resulting in : = E/E s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/C+ = E/E s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c = E/E s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c or lav/lav = E/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/C+ = E/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c = E/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c or lav/lav = eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/C+= eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ C+/c = eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c or lav/lav = 56,25% Black phenotype of which pure and unpure "E" carrying not or one "c" allel or one "lav" allel = 18,75% Asiatic partridge phenotype which are pure eb/eb carrying not or one "c" allel or one "lav" allel = 25% white phenotype of which 6,25% "epistasis" over E/E or = 25% lavender phenotype of which 6,25% "epistasis" over E/E Photo of Tünde Now something remarkable, "E" is a Dominant gene, "c" is a recessive gene but when the two "c" alleles comes together in one chick as "c/c" (homozygote recessieve white) it is EPISTASIS over the "E/E" (homozygote Dominant Black) and it will let see the recessive color white in the phenotype. Epistasis: some genes (here c/c) overrule the effect of other genes (here E/E). The same result will be becomed when we replace the C-locus by the Lav-locus in the above crosses for Dominant & recessive, for epistasis we will result in this other beautiful Silkie color Prealgray (lavender) : Photo of Tünde  Pure E/E and pure lav/lav = lavender phenotype you could see it as clumping of the melanosomes in the destination cells. for the better and complete genetic explanations look the "genetica dei polli" by Tünde Csanadi. For an explanation about the white Silkies look ASA-newsletter 1 Fourth example : Now a last example of a cross with two extremities resulting in an intermediar color This example will show us what incomplete Dominance means. BLACK (homozygote Dominant Black) X white (homozygote Dominant Blue) E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus Bl-locus X E-locus S-locus Ml-locus Mh-locus Bl-locus E/E s+/s+ ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ bl+/bl+ E/E s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/Bl When we cross these two extremities we become an "intermediar color" = Blue. Resulting in : = E/E s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ bl+/bl+ = E/E s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/bl+ = 50% Black phenotype (pure E-locus) (with possible outbreak of gold). = 50% Blue phenotype (pure E-locus) (with possible outbreak of gold). Photo's of Tünde    E/E bl+/bl+ = Black E/E Bl/bl+ = Blue E/E Bl/Bl = Splash Sometimes alleles are INCOMPLETE DOMINANT , example are blue on chickens. It always shows, but stronger when purebred.
Bl/bl+ is blue, Bl/Bl is splash, bl+/bl+ is wildtype, black on a unicolor chicken. But also here we can notice differences in the gradation of the blue-color : Photo's of Tünde and Danny Blue : E/E s+/- or S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/bl+ All 3 hens have the same genotype but the clearness of the blue increases by the amount of diluter "Bl" and with the reduction of the melaniser "Ml" at the same time. So intermediar can be interpretated !!Graphic of Hans  Bl/Bl - Bl/bl+ - bl+/bl+ B/B - B/b+ - b+/b+ A graphic for Platenbont but it can be used also for Blue (more or less Diluting Blue) and for Cuckoo. _____________________________________________________________________________________ PART 3 I only limit myself here to give a genotype and to let see some phenotypes in our Silkies. In specialisation for the better and complete genetic explanations look the "genetica dei polli" by Tünde Csanadi. There are other, less common ways, color-genes act and interact with eachother: Just a little common information about the sex-linked colors. To be clear there are only 3 loci that are sex-linked: S-locus : mutation is Silver = S/S * S/- or original is NOT Silver but gold = s+/s+ * s+/- cocks can be unpure Silverish = S/s+ (because S dominant over s+) B-locus : mutation is Barred (light cock) = B/B * B/- or original is NOT Barred but black = b+/b+ * b+/- cocks can be unpure dark Barred = B/b+ (because B dominant over b+) choc-locus : mutation is chocolate = choc/choc * choc/- or original is NOT chocolate but black = Choc+/Choc+ * Choc/- cocks can be unpure Black = Choc+/choc (because Choc+ dominant over choc) Photo's of Tünde, Manuela, Louisa and Hans of the sex-linked colors (choc not yet in Silkies)     gold s+/- Silver S/- Cucula B/- * B/b+ chocolate choc/choc For the completer genotype look the summary below. B-locus Also here we have a genetic rule that not comport itself as we learned it should comport itself ! The B-locus can contain the original "b+" and the mutation "B" expressing in Black- or Cuckoo-phenotype
These Cuckoo-phenotypes, in the cocks can have 2 variants, the light-variant contain B/B and the dark-variant contain B/b+ . Hens are always dark and contain B/-. Photo of Louisa  Was us not learned that a Dominant color-gene need ONLY 1 allel to have the same effect as 2 alleles !? ex.: Ml/ml+ (heterozygote) have the same effect in one dose as in two doses Ml/Ml (homozygote) Mh/mh+ (heterozygote) have the same effect in one dose as in two doses Mh/Mh (homozygote) so : B/b+ (heterozygote) should have the same effect in one dose as in two doses B/B (homozygote) But this is NOT the case !! Is the Dominant B-gene only INCOMPLETE DOMINANT !?On one of the last exhibitions I was we discussed this with a judge and he putted it in a splendid way : "Try to become Cuckoo Silkies with dark comb, skin, legs and eyes is the same as wanting a negro woman with blond hairs from herselve" For an explanation about Cuckoo Silkies inheritance look ASA-newsletter 2 S-locus Photo's of Willem and Manuela   Photo's of Tünde and Manuela This happen under influnence of the male hormones "testosterone" For an explanation about this male hormones phenomenon look ASA-newsletter 8 The S-locus can contain the original "s+" or the mutation "S" expressing in a gold- or Silver-phenotype. These gold- and Silver phenotypes, aswell in cocks as in hens have 3 variants , dark, middle and light. These 3 variants in color-tonality of the Asiatic Partridge is again the expression of the présence or absence of the reinforcers or diluters Photo Angela Photo Danny Photo Danny    With these 3 visible examples I want to indicate the importance to take into account all genes. All 3 hens are pure eb/eb S/- and have the same genotype but look different in there phenotypes ! When we not look deeper than these 2 Loci "E" and "S" than we can't explain why these differences. This is why we must count always with the presence or absence of the melanisers and diluters. choc-Locus the choc/choc cock and the choc/- hens have exactely the same phenotype. The choc-locus can contain the original "Choc+" and the mutation "choc" expressing in a Black- or chocolate-phenotype Not yet photo's availeble of chocolate Silkies ! Internet photo's   The first looking as "chocolate Silkies", still a long way to go !! -A bit a special way of inheritance is the SEX-LINKED inheritance, sex-linked traits are gold/silver, cuckoo and chocolate. In sexlinked inheritance the gender that has an odd couple of sex chromosomes always shows the sexlinked traits
and those traits come from the opposite gendered parent. Example : E/E choc/choc (chocolate cock) X E/E Choc+/Choc+ ( Black hen) = Black cocks and chocolate hens. -There is also the CO-DOMINANCE when both alleles of a genepair express but of this there is not an example available in the chicken colors. Example : an example is AB in our blood group. -An other very special way of inheritance also in chickencolors is the CROSSING-OVER when genes are far apart on the chromosome they can segregate independantly, a piece of chromosome can be interchanged then, when the genes loci are close to one another on the chromosome there is a certain chance of recombination. Example : co+-ml+-pg+//co+-ml+-pg+ can also be added db+/db+ Example : red hen X black cock and black hen X red cock. Something very special : two Dominant genes in ONE chicken "E" and "I". As far as known only in Silkies ! Can we speak here of Co-Dominance !? NO, we can't , because Co-Dominance must be the expression in the phenotype of TWO alleles of the same gene, here it are two DIFFERENT genes that express !!! Photo's of Tünde   For more specific explanations about platenbont see ASA-newsletter 3 But still some mysteries for this genotype !!!! The genes to take in considaration in our recognized Silkie colors should be: Summary of the Silkies genotypes : white : eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ c/c Black : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ Blue : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- Ml/Ml or ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/bl+ lavender : E/E s+/s+ * s/- or S/S * S/- Ml/Ml or ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ lav/lav Red : eb/eb Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh (gray under fluff) Red : eWh/eWh Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh (red under fluff) Buff : eWh/eWh Co/Co s+/s+ * s+/- ml+/ml+ Mh/Mh Di/Di gold Asiatic partridge : eb/eb s+/s+ * s+/- Pg/Pg ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Silver Asiatic partridge : eb/eb S/S * S/- Pg/Pg ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Cuckoo : E/E S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ B/B or B/b+ * B/- out of categorie Platenbont : E/E S/S * S/- Ml/Ml mh+/mh+ I/? (mo/mo)! Splash : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ Bl/Bl Alleles in red are the mutated alleles, those in white we must consider also, those in bluish are options. In grayish written names are excisting colorations in Silkies but who are not (yet) regognized officially. In blue written names are sex-linked colors (the chocolate was not mentioned because not yet in Silkies) At this very moment there is being worked on bringing this coloration also in Silkies so here is genotype chocolate : E/E s+/s+ * s+/- or S/S * S/- ml+/ml+ mh+/mh+ choc/choc * choc/- Always a phenotype can hide a heterozygote recessive color-allele what than can result in unexpected colors in the offspring when those both hidden recessive color-alleles comes together in the chick via the sperm of the cock (which is containing ONE allel of all genes) and the eggcell of the hen (which is also containing ONE allel of all genes *exception for the sex-linked genes*) becoming again a complete homozygote recessive color-gene that will express itself in the new phenotype of the new born chick. With this personal view about breeding in practice with the genetic rules in the back of the head I hope to have been of some assistance for other hobby Silkie-breeders and chicken color-breeders in general. For the better and complete genetic explanations look the "genetica dei polli" by Tünde Csanadi. But also "http://www.summagallicana.it/Volume3/terzo_volume.htm" by Dr. E Corti. And the other most interesting links, see lower. Thank you for your attention. Danny My special thanks to my friends that gived me permission to use there photo's. Bacio per tutti. Breeding in extern genes on Silkies until + back 98% pure Silkie and other specificities, click the star : * Again, for the better and complete genetic explanations look the "genetica dei polli" by Tünde Csanadi. For all colorations of Silkies in real poultry see these : Tünde's poultry Louise's poultry Angela's poultry For 3 alternative Silver Silkie coloration variations in progress see these : http://www.zijdehoenders.be contact via : danny@zijdehoenders.be |
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Basics about chicken color genetics inheritance in Silkies ;-)
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Basics
Breeding knowledge about eb/eb groundcolor Silkies.
Breeding knowledge about E/E groundcolor Silkies.
Breeding knowledge about eWh/eWh groundcolor Silkies.
Breeding together
Common
Moreheads
Singularity in Buff Silkies
Singularity in Cuckoo Silkies
Singularity in gold Silkies
Singularity in Grigioperla Silkies
Singularity in Platenbont Silkies
Singularity in Red Silkies
Singularity in Silver Silkies
Singularity in Splash Silkies
Singularity in white Silkies
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