explain the silkie please

[broody rooster]

hey everyone i have always wanted a silkie and i did research on them but cant get any straight info on there background some have told me they're a different breed others have told me they're even a different species

i am i have found that another " breed" the sumatra has black skin as well but now i'm curious about them both and why they have black skin and the extra toe are they actually a different species or just a weird genetic modification i'm really fascinated thank you

 

[donrae]

Silkies are the same species as other chickens. They're a different breed, but so are Plymouth Rocks, Australorps, etc. Silkies can breed with any other breed of chicken, they're all the same species.

Other breeds have five toes---Sultans, Faverolles, Dorkings and Houdans.

Other than that, I believe the silkie feathers were a spontaneous mutation many years ago. The gene for silkie feathers is recessive.

Fibromelanotic (hope I spelled that right) is the term for the black skin. It's also present on other breeds, and can be passed down to mixed breed offspring.

The characteristics of any specific breed are the result of selective breeding, occasionally taking advantage of mutations or sport animals.

 

[broody rooster]

oh ok thankyou ! ive been in the dark about them for awhile