5-toed Silkie

[basketballndl]

So check this out... do you think its strange for a silkie hen to have 5 toes on one foot and 4 on the other?????

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

That is kind of strange!

Silkies are suppost to have 5 toes - but I bet you already knew that!

 

[SilkiesAndSuch]

Its not that uncommon, most breeders just sell them for pet quality and don't breed them. But they still make great pets

 

[FireTigeris]

I have a silkie roo crossed to both a RIR and a GLW - all of his offspring are mutts all but one got right foot 5 toes, left foot 4 toes, all the GLW are bantum sived and the RIR are LF...

Now If he had proper feathers (he doesn't) I would have to check his possible mates to make sure they give 5 toes on the left feet- then I could nearly ensure 5 toes each foot.

If I wanted to breed silkies...

I don't think you can show a four toed silkie.

So I learned from my cross:

My roo carries 4 toed gene for the right foot,
My GLW carries the gene for bantam
My roo carries black under his dominant white
My RIR gold (red) leaks on males but does not leak as much on females weather black or white base feathering. ((this surprised me I thought it would be the other way))
My roo only carries one black skin gene as I had two born with white skin.
My roo only carries one foot feather gene OR foot feather is recessive and one of the girls has it also

I guess my silkie is a silkie/sultan cross from what I see.

 

[basketballndl]

yes, but i have 4 silkies.
(Popcorn)(Roo)-4 toes on each foot
(Sal)(Roo)-4 toes on one foot, 5 on the other.
Cinn(Hen)- 5 toes on both feet
Rootbeer(Hen)- 4 toes on one foot, 5 on the other.


All purchased from the same place. Same time.
... I wonder what the parents looked like

 

[basketballndl]

Quote:
true, they are good pets and they are adorable!

 

[SilkiesAndSuch]

es, but i have 4 silkies.
(Popcorn)(Roo)-4 toes on each foot
(Sal)(Roo)-4 toes on one foot, 5 on the other.
Cinn(Hen)- 5 toes on both feet
Rootbeer(Hen)- 4 toes on one foot, 5 on the other.


All purchased from the same place. Same time.
... I wonder what the parents looked like

I'm betting on at least one of the parents having 4 toes on one foot and 5 on the other. It is easily inherited from parents and because it can become a problem so quickly in future birds, breeders don't use them. But again, if you aren't planning on showing them or selling show quality birds, it doesn't really matter if your bird is lacking a toe i guess. I had a bird with 4 and 5 and he was very sweet. Good luck with your birds

 

[basketballndl]

Thanks... the diffent toes just add more character to my already strange flock