Silver grey, brown, fawn and blue
Silver grey bred by Sarah Yeomans
These mice are the result of a normal variety (agouti, black, fawn or blue) combined with the recessive gene known to scientists as silver (si), or within the fancy as silvered. This gene has been in the UK fancy since at least 1900, when the silver grey standard was first awarded. The specimens first studied by scientists in 1912 (and subsequently) were actually obtained from English fanciers. The name "silver grey" originated with the rabbit variety, and was then applied to the corresponding mouse variety.
A silver grey mouse has several kinds of hair: all white, all black, black with white tips and hairs with white and grey or black bands. Young mice appear self-like (e.g. silver greys appear black) at first, and the silvering appears at around weaning age. The face, rump and feet are the last areas to finish silvering. Some silver greys can suffer from dark extremities that have little or no ticking, which is a fault on the show bench.
Dunn and Thigpen (1930) recorded that while nonagouti mice become more silvered as they age (the fancy's silver grey and silver blue), in agouti and yellow mice (silver agouti and silver fawn) the silvering actually decreases with age.
A silver grey mouse has several kinds of hair: all white, all black, black with white tips and hairs with white and grey or black bands. Young mice appear self-like (e.g. silver greys appear black) at first, and the silvering appears at around weaning age. The face, rump and feet are the last areas to finish silvering. Some silver greys can suffer from dark extremities that have little or no ticking, which is a fault on the show bench.
Dunn and Thigpen (1930) recorded that while nonagouti mice become more silvered as they age (the fancy's silver grey and silver blue), in agouti and yellow mice (silver agouti and silver fawn) the silvering actually decreases with age.
Silver brown
Silver greys (but not the other colours) are recognised in light, medium and dark shades. It is worth noting that although the yellow-based variety is called silver fawn, it can in fact have either pink or black eyes and therefore both silvered fawn and silvered red are permissible.
When showing silvered mice, it is important that those placed on the bench are free from moult, as moulting tends to make ticked mice look uneven.
To breed silvered mice you must start with a mouse with the silvered gene - it cannot be made from scratch by combining other varieties. The silvered varieties are not overly popular in the UK fancy, but there are a couple of good breeders working with them. One of these fanciers selectively bred silver greys to recreate the elusive pearl.
When showing silvered mice, it is important that those placed on the bench are free from moult, as moulting tends to make ticked mice look uneven.
To breed silvered mice you must start with a mouse with the silvered gene - it cannot be made from scratch by combining other varieties. The silvered varieties are not overly popular in the UK fancy, but there are a couple of good breeders working with them. One of these fanciers selectively bred silver greys to recreate the elusive pearl.
Silver grey
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Silver blue bred by Sarah Cudbill
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Silver brown
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Silver blue tan bred by Sarah Cudbill
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Silver blue tan bred by Sarah Cudbill
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Silver blue tan bred by Sarah Cudbill
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