Silkie colors guide
We breed silkies in six colors. Here's what each one looks like, how it can change as the bird grows, and what to expect when you hatch them.
Mille fleur means "a thousand flowers" in French. Each feather is a rich mahogany with a black crescent and a white tip, so the bird looks covered in tiny blossoms. It is one of the most detailed patterns a silkie can wear.
Mottled silkies are black with white-tipped feathers, like fresh snow on a dark coat. The white tips show up across the body, crest and feathered feet.
Splash silkies are pale, almost white, with soft splashes of blue-gray or black. No two look exactly alike, and some are nearly pure white.
Paint silkies are white with bold black patches, a bit like a fluffy little cow. Every bird has its own pattern, which makes them easy to tell apart.
Black silkies are solid black from crest to toes, with the classic silkie black skin and dark eyes. A timeless color and a favorite for showing.
Blue silkies are a soft slate gray, ranging from light dove gray to deep slate. One of the gentlest-looking colors there is.
Color genetics
Blue, black and splash all come from the same gene. Black has no copies, blue has one, and splash has two. Each parent passes on one copy, which is why these pairings hatch the way they do.
| Pairing | Chicks you can expect |
|---|---|
| Black × Black | 100% black |
| Black × Blue | About 50% black, 50% blue |
| Black × Splash | 100% blue |
| Blue × Blue | About 25% black, 50% blue, 25% splash |
| Blue × Splash | About 50% blue, 50% splash |
| Splash × Splash | 100% splash |
Percentages are averages. A small hatch can come out differently, like flipping a coin. For mottled, paint and mille fleur, see our full silkie color genetics guide.
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