09/16/2024
🪻 What are Lavenders? 🪻
The Lavender color in Silkies (also known as Self Blue or "SB") is a result of a specific genetic combination that dilutes the color of the feathers. Not to be confused with blue or splash varieties, Lavender Silkies exhibit a uniform shade of blue-gray, which is both aesthetically pleasing and difficult to breed. The genetics behind this coloration is primarily influenced by a recessive gene known as the "lavender" gene.
🧬 Genetics behind Lavenders 🧬
The lavender gene is a variant of the dilution gene. This gene acts as a color modifier, reducing the intensity of the base color. For Silkies, the lavender gene dilutes black feathers to a soft grayish-blue.
Here's a simplified breakdown of the genetic mechanism:
Base Color Genes: Silkies can have a variety of base colors, but the most common ones include black, blue, and splash. To create pure lavender, only a true black base should be used.
Dilution Gene: The lavender gene acts on these base colors. When a Silkie inherits two copies of the lavender gene (one from each parent), the resultant coloration will be the Lavender or Self Blue.
Recessive Nature: Since the lavender gene is recessive, both parent birds must carry at least one copy of the lavender gene for their offspring to exhibit the Lavender color. If only one parent carries the gene, the offspring may not display the Lavender coloration but will carry the gene, potentially passing it on to future generations (these birds are called "splits" or "split to lavender".)
