Fab, joe. Absolutely gorgeous, the lot ovvem.
Thanks,
Soo xx
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They look very happy, joe!
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Truth to tell, it’s a challenge to work out how Violet is looking. Or indeed where.
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So I gather, joe.
I’m a bit sad for Violet, but I know that she is in good hands.
Soo xx
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The mysteries of genetics…
Still trying to work out how Bella and Kiki (on the left) contrived to produce Vicky (on the right)
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Magnificent! Gorgeous! …beautiful plumage! (…duh!) 
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Looks a bit suspicious to me, joe. Have you had a word with Bella? If it works the way blue and brown eyes do - two blue-eyed people cannot have a brown-eyed child, whereas two brown-eyed people can produce a blue-eyed child since they might both be carrying a recessive gene for blue eyes whereas the blue-eyed people cannot carry a brown-eyed gene since if they did they would have brown eyes, it being the dominant gene.
Similarly, two normally pigmented people can have a child with albinism.
Of course Bella will point in her defence to Kiki’s scattering of dark feathers.
P.S. Gorgeous photo as always!
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Um, she’ll go white as she grows, like a connemara pony?
But really, who cares, they’re all beautiful.
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You’re pretty much on the money, JJ. The white coloration of a silkie is actually caused by the suppression of genes for pigmentation, so it appears that unless you cross two whites, you could end up with any colour that is in the genetic history.
What really surprised us is the evenness of Vicky’s plumage; the beautiful variegated grey covers the whole body—apart from the head (black) and one white feather sticking out to the side of each foot (KIKI WOZ ERE)
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Come to think of it, the same applies to Herdwick sheep - the lambs are almost black, going lighter as they get older.
These silkies are wonderful, aren’t they? So different-looking. Do they realise it?
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Ahem. If you REALLY need telling Joe …
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Oh, the mechanics—no problem. The genetics, on the other hand…
Of course, we’re just guessing that Kiki’s the father, but Vicky does have his particular gait.
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I luvvem all.
Soo xx
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My very point Joseph. My very point.
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Kiki’s responsibility is no longer in any doubt. Vicky as she is now:
Somehow, she’s contrived to be silkie from the neck up and pekin from the legs down. Where the middle came from is anyone’s guess!
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I was driving through Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening and passed four free-range roosters on the A505 just west of Duxford. (Pecking about in the long grass by the side of the road.)
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Have we mentioned the free-range hens (plus a rooster) at the service station? (not in this country)
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