What does a grey silkie look like?

[huckleberryfarm]

I just hatched a silkie that I think might be grey. It's still drying in the bator but it's dark with a very silvery head and crest. I think grey might be the opposite. I also have a darkish one with silver chipmunk markings. New to me! Any thoughts? Do you have a picture of a grey you could post? Thanks!

 

[muddyhorse]

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Thanks but that's a link for Seramas.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

This photo is NOT mine and I am not representing it as my bird. It is one that I took from the ABA site to show an example of a gorgeous gray hen. This hen is owned and bred by Donna McCormick.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Here is the description in the Standard of Perfection:

Gray Silkie Bantams (Bearded and Non-Bearded)

Color - Male Plumage
Head
Dark Gray
Neck
Hackle - light gray streaked with darker gray.
Back
Even shade of chinchilla gray.
Saddle
To match hackle.
Tail
Main tail, sickles, and coverts same as back.
Wings
Shoulders, fronts, bows, and coverts same as back.
Primaries slaty gray with center shafting of darker shade.
Secondaries slaty gray.
Breast
Light gray.
Body & Stern
Same as back.
Shanks & Toes
Slaty blue
Undercolor
Smoky gray of a shade not darker than top color.

Color - Female Plumage
Head
Chinchilla Gray
Neck
Hackle - light gray streaked with darker gray.
Back & Cushion
Even shade of chinchilla gray.
Tail
Main tail and coverts same as back.
Wings
Shoulders, fronts, bows, and coverts same as back.
Primaries and secondaries solid even shade of slaty gray.
Breast
Light gray.
Body & Stern
Same as back.
Shanks & Toes
Slaty blue
Undercolor
Smoky gray of a shade not darker than top color.

 

[melloladies]

Quote:
Wow, she is gorgeous

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I'm considering breeding grays, but it will require another breeding pen to be built...and I don't know if I have the energy. I absolutely love them. Although we also call them "silver partridge", they are NOT supposed to have the penciling that you see in gold-based partridge.

The SOP calls for an "even chincilla gray".

 

[melloladies]

Quote:
LOVE LOVE LOVE. I'm not a fan of the partridge coloration- I really can't say I like blue that well either- but that gray is a stunner. I hadn't ever seen that- Thanks for posting the pic Judy!

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Yes, she's beautiful! Once I posted, I realized that my chick is the opposite. The head is light and the body is dark. So greys must be bred alone? You do kind of end up with 1000 pens when breeding, don't you? My husband is a bit sick of it! Wait until I tell him I just bought some paints. But not the price of course!

 

[huckleberryfarm]

By the way, Judy, I have some of your black eggs going into lockdown on Thursday!