Feathered legged babies from backyard mix ?

[lbogner]

I just hatched my first batch of babies from our mixed breed flock of chickens.
The rooster is a black copper maran, the hens are the following breeds;
Barred rock
Golden and silver laced Wyandotte
white rock
Easter Egger ( said to be a cross of Americana and Aracauna)

These mixes sure make cute, healthy chicks. My questions is how

am I getting chicks with feathered legs? Just curious.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

The feathered leg gene could be hiding deep down in one of their parents ancestry

 

[lbogner]

The feathered leg gene could be hiding deep down in one of their parents ancestry

That has to be right. Just hatched a few more from the Easter Egger eggs/black maran rooster and these also have feathered legs. How weird and cool. Thanks

 

[Willawong Hill]

Some types of Maran have feathered legs and EE's are a mix so probably some fethery genes there too. It is dominant which usually means one parent has to show it, but perhaps they both have it in low enough levels (or perhaps there's also a feather supression gene?) that it doesn't show until there are two copies in the chicks.

 

[lbogner]

Thank you for your expertise and input. This suppressed gene in both parents has to be the reason. I do have a silkie rooster and living next to the hens whose eggs I hatched but am certain he can’t be doing his thing through the fence With them. Biology and Nature sure are fascinating!