Bone deformity in silkie?

[diamondsilkies]

I have a 3 1/2 month old silkie cockerel from a nice breeder in Florida. I got him as a chick, and he has been vaccinated for Marek's. He always holds his left wing in a weird position, just slightly higher than it should be. I never knew why and always thought that was just his feathering or the way he holds.

This morning, I was bathing all my chickens (they had lice ). When I starting bathing him, I noticed something on the left half of his back, which is normally hidden by his feathers. Instead of his back being relatively flat, like a normal chicken's, he has this big bump (probably about 2 in.) on the left side. It definitely feels like a bone. He doesn't seem bothered by it, or like he's in any pain. I didn't think to take a picture, and he's all dry now, but if we need one I could try and get one. It's hard to see, it's more of something that you can feel with your hand. Any ideas of what this could be?

(Also, I've been raising him with the intention of him becoming my newest for my breeding flock. Should I not breed him, in case this is genetic?)

 

[diamondsilkies]

I've been looking at photos of chicken skeletons, but I can't figure out what it could be. I drew a red circle on this picture of where it is.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like a skeletal deformity, but a picture later would be good. Spondylopathy or kinky back is a spinal deformity that you can read more about here:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/141/spondylolisthesis-kinkyback/

 

[Eggcessive]

Look at post 4 in this thread for roach back or kinky back deformity:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hunchback-of-the-chicken-coop.882704/

 

[diamondsilkies]

He has too many feathers for me to get a good picture, so I took a video of me running my hand down his back, which kind of gives you an idea of where the lump is and how big it is. Most of the chickens with kinky back seem to be meat industry birds, which a silkie is far from. He can hold his head up, and walks around, eating and drinking. He does walk with a slight limp, which I noticed again today. Definitely the quietest of the bunch, but still looks healthy, which is why I didn't notice this until today.

Clearly, there's nothing I can do for him, and he doesn't seem to be in any sort of pain as far as I can tell, so I don't think I should cull him. I guess my remaining question is if I can breed him. I'm guessing not, but would like to get a second opinion on this. He's from a good breeder (Bobbi Porto/Indigo Egg), so you'd think that this sort of thing wouldn't be an issue (not trying to put any blame on her, just curious).

 

[Eggcessive]

I would speak to the breeder about whether or not to breed him. Maybe she could replace him. Many things are genetic, while some tend to happen with trace mineral deficiencies of the parent stock. Leg bone deformities are also much more common in broiler chickens, but we see them every day here in layers as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 3 1/2 month old silkie cockerel from a nice breeder in Florida. I got him as a chick, and he has been vaccinated for Marek's. He always holds his left wing in a weird position, just slightly higher than it should be.
This morning, I was bathing all my chickens (they had lice ). ...It definitely feels like a bone.

(Also, I've been raising him with the intention of him becoming my newest for my breeding flock. Should I not breed him, in case this is genetic?)

Most of the chickens with kinky back seem to be meat industry birds, which a silkie is far from. He can hold his head up, and walks around, eating and drinking. He does walk with a slight limp, which I noticed again today. Definitely the quietest of the bunch, but still looks healthy, which is why I didn't notice this until today.

Clearly, there's nothing I can do for him, ...I guess my remaining question is if I can breed him. I'm guessing not, but would like to get a second opinion on this

He's from a good breeder (Bobbi Porto/Indigo Egg), so you'd think that this sort of thing wouldn't be an issue (not trying to put any blame on her, just curious).

I would speak with the breeder too - see if he can be replaced. Sometimes things happen during hatching, could be genetic or parent stock deficiency - it would be hard to know why he has a lump like that.
The "defect" along with the limping - Personally, NO, I would not breed him. If you enjoy him, then keep him as a pet and give him love and a good life.
Get another cockerel/rooster for your breeding program.