Bearded Silkie Chicks: How to tell?

[countyroad1330]

I was wondering, how can you tell if a Silkie chick is going to be bearded or not? Is it the big poof on top of the head?

 

[Frozen Feathers]

They will have fluff on their neck under their beak. Crest size has nothing to do with bearded or non-bearded.

 

[countyroad1330]

Oh I see it!!! I found some pictures on Feathersite.com Its that extra poof, kinda on their cheeks, that looks like... a beard!

Thanks Angie!

 

[trishok8]

I'm a rookie here but silkies also have 5 toes instead of the normal 4. Correct me if I'm wrong....please.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Yup, they have 5 toes.

 

[trishok8]

I have three silkies and i have just started to notice that two have puffy cheeks and one does not so i think I'm going to end up with two bearded.

Also, my son notices that one of our silkies Rosie has SEVEN TOES!!!!!

I should take and pic and post it.

 

[M.J]

bearded literly means that they have a beard right under the chin that goes from ear to ear and yes you can tell by its a liittle more floofy under the chin of the chick

 

[silkiechicken]

It's polydactaly and rather common in silkies. Generally you don't want to breed them though as they can pass that gene on.

 

[trishok8]

Thanks Silkiechicken----we still love her---we call her Rosie with to many toesies.

I was holding her last night, she was a week old Tuesday, and I flipped her over onto her back and was rubbing her belly and there, staring me in the face was two little feet with 12 toes.

Cute.