I bought some chicks from a local lady, and when she told me what they were, she used both the terms "Easter-egger" and "Ameraucana", wheaten and blue wheaten I think. Whichever they are, last night I noticed the little blue pullet seems to have five toes - well, sort of. One of her toes has two at the end, not like she has a full length extra toe, just a nicely formed little extra joint and claw that took me over a week to notice, even though I pick her up and pet her often. Is that too freaky, or just a minor thing? Possibly inbreeding? Hopefully a recessive gene? Anyone know if it is linked to other health/fertility issues?
I'd hate to have to cull her, but I really want to breed, not just have "pretty eggs." Between her and my 7-toed, single comb silkies, I'm beginning to think I need to start a side show animal farm...
Sigh. Maybe I need to just get rid of all 9 of my specialty chicks, and start over fresh now that I know a little better. Then again, no one in my area seems to have even heard of a local poultry show, so why should I bother trying to keep breed standards? Just breed and sell for my own enjoyment...but I'm afraid that someone will re-sale or sell the offspring misrepresented as purer quality which could lead to hard feelings at best. If I do sell, obviously I wouldn't claim they were pure Ameraucanas or show quality silkies.
I'd hate to have to cull her, but I really want to breed, not just have "pretty eggs." Between her and my 7-toed, single comb silkies, I'm beginning to think I need to start a side show animal farm...

Sigh. Maybe I need to just get rid of all 9 of my specialty chicks, and start over fresh now that I know a little better. Then again, no one in my area seems to have even heard of a local poultry show, so why should I bother trying to keep breed standards? Just breed and sell for my own enjoyment...but I'm afraid that someone will re-sale or sell the offspring misrepresented as purer quality which could lead to hard feelings at best. If I do sell, obviously I wouldn't claim they were pure Ameraucanas or show quality silkies.