DO F1 SILKIE CROSSES ALWAYS HAVE 5 TOES? APPARENTLY NOT!

[JCaseyHammond]

I just remembered reading this article by TwoCrows from 2015. Hope it helps.

*edited to add, Was trying to find where I thought I read cold temperature or low humidity during incubation may cause 5 toes?? I got 5 toes in a chick from parents and grandparents with 4 toes.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages.68093/

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I just remembered reading this article by TwoCrows from 2015. Hope it helps.

*edited to add, Was trying to find where I thought I read cold temperature or low humidity during incubation may cause 5 toes?? I got 5 toes in a chick from parents and grandparents with 4 toes.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages.68093/

Thank you, I do appreciate it.
Silkies normally have 5 toes and this trait is normally passed on to silkie crosses, often used as a sign that a cross bred bird has silkie in it. I was surprised when one of my hybrid chicks only had 4 toes (what most other chicken breeds have). All the other chicks of this cross that I am hatching have the expected 5 toes.

 

[SulkyBantam]

I had some silkie cosses that had 4 toes in on one foot and 5 on another.

Same! My roos each have 9 toes in all! 'accidents' too... pure silkie x pure polish.

But my others, both the same cross, were 1 5 toes on each foot... the other 4 on each!

Weird, right?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I hatched out an egg from my blue silkie crossed with my Marans Mix (Midnight Majesty Marans - named by Hoovers but she's basically a mix of different Marans to be a dark brown egg layer). The cockerel has 4 toes on 1 foot, 5 toes on the other. He is definitely interesting looking and a big boy!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I hatched out an egg from my blue silkie crossed with my Marans Mix (Midnight Majesty Marans - named by Hoovers but she's basically a mix of different Marans to be a dark brown egg layer). The cockerel has 4 toes on 1 foot, 5 toes on the other. He is definitely interesting looking and a big boy!

Love to see a photo of him if you are so inclined. My chicks are 50% silkie, 25% ameraucana and 25% black copper marans.
This is the one with 4 toes:

And a few of the others (all with 5 toes):

 

[SulkyBantam]

I've a silkie cross with ONE feathered leg!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I've a silkie cross with ONE feathered leg!

That's interesting! I'd love to see a picture if possible

 

[SulkyBantam]

That's interesting! I'd love to see a picture if possible

Will take one when the camera's fixed!