Barb Question re Silkie

[chickenGRAFFITI]

I had 3 silkies that were all truly show quality from very reputable breeders. One went broody and I decided to get eggs from one of the breeders I had bought one of the pullets from. 2 eggs hatched and I have a question about the feathering of one. The eggs were marked and I know who the parents are of the egg and they are both show quality in every aspect and from different bloodlines (These are several hundred dollar birds). At 6 weeks old now this one chick really does have barbed feathers over most of its body (not underneath). Other than that it has perfect coloring, beak color, toe spacing, top knot and beard/muffs. I love him/her no matter what the physical appearance but I am wondering how this happened and will it stay this way.

I will try and get a picture in the morning as I have just put them up for the evening.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Just because you have show quality birds, does not mean that all of the offspring will be show quality. You might get about 5 Show quality chicks out of every 100 chicks that are hatched.

The barbed feathering, would indicate another breed/mix.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! Are you saying they aren't 'silkie feathered'?

Lisa

 

[chickenGRAFFITI]

Yes,
It appears that this one is not silkie feathered. I understand that you are not necessarily going to get SQ but this one really does not have fully silkie feathers.
Quote:

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! That's interesting. Are you certain someone didn't 'jump the fence'? I've never (not to say it can't happen) seen a regular feathered chick come from two silkie feathered parents.
edited to add: If you've had them less than a month (you didn't mention, just reaching), maybe they were in a mixed pen and were mated by something 'other than' a Silkie before you got them.

Lisa

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Remember that the wings will have hard feathers that are shredded on the edges and they are usually the first feathers to come in.

Another thing to remember...it doesn't matter how much a bird costs or even if they've won nationals...they will sometimes throw a very average chick. But if it's pure silkie it should look like one!!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Any pictures? Maybe we could get a better idea exactly what your talking about and take a looksy ourself?

 

[chickenGRAFFITI]

Quote:
I will try and get some up tomorrow morning as they are in bed right now.

 

[Skyesrocket]

Call the breeder. They will want to know. I have bred white silkies and showgirls for several years. I knew what the chicks would look like before they hatched. Much to my shock, the first hatch of this year the chicks were cuckoo, and barbed.

My darling little silkie hens were leaving their pen just long enough for my cuckoo maran roo to bred them.

Then, right back into the pen they went.
I'm so glad that I caught this before selling any hatching eggs this year. But if I had, I would have wanted to know about it right away.