English Orpington with feathered legs

[hobbyfarmer]

I wanted some chocolate orpingtons but I couldn't find any locally. So, I ordered hatching eggs. Two dozen eggs from two different breeders. The first pullet hatched is now a few months old. (I have four more from the second dozen that I can't sex just yet.) The thing is, that first pullet is a big girl and a lovely chocolate color with no white but she's growing random feathers on her legs and feet! Not like fully feathered but more than a few. The second batch has some white showing up here and there in their body feathers but have clean legs. Do I just need to scrap this breeding plan and start looking again? Why would feathered legs show up in purebred English orpingtons? Now granted, I bought the eggs off pictures of the parents but both breeders had good feedback and I have no reason to believe they misrepresented the adult birds in any way. Just wondering if anyone else has had feathered legs pop up in an orpington and if the trait was passed on. Please and thanks!

 

[Pyxis]

Sounds like feather stubs. It can pop up even when the parents don't have them. Personally I don't breed birds like that, but if you can't get different stock you could start with her and then aggressively cull against the trait.

 

[hobbyfarmer]

Sounds like feather stubs. It can pop up even when the parents don't have them. Personally I don't breed birds like that, but if you can't get different stock you could start with her and then aggressively cull against the trait.

Ugh. I have so much invested in this single pullet but the feathers just now started growing on her legs and feet so I'd have to keep all her chicks for months to determine if they have clean legs. I think I already knew I shouldn't breed her but I was hoping this kind of the thing would be a complete fluke. Thanks!