How many toes does a chick usually have??

[BarefootMom]

Strange question right? lol I picked up 9 chicks tonight. They are silkie/cochin and silkie/EE crosses... I was looking at the feathered feet when I noticed one of the chicks has 4 toes on one foot and 5 on the other. weird. What causes that? DH said inbreeding would cause it. Well DH and I now are wondering how many toes they are suppossed to have... another chick has 3 on one and 4 on the other...

so anyone know?

 

[hennyannie]

This is strange to me. They usually have the same on both feet. Hold I'm gonna go check mine!

 

[BrattishTaz]

Not a strange question at all.

Different breeds have different numbers of toes. All of mine have 4 except for a silkie cross (5) that snuck in with the chicks I got.

 

[Southernbelle]

Silkies and a few other breeds have 5 toes on each foot. The vast majority of other chickens have 4 toes on each foot. When you have pet quality Silkies or Silkie crosses, it's not unusual to have 4 toes on one foot and 5 on the other. It's not inbreeding, just Silkie genetics.

 

[BarefootMom]

Quote:
awesome thanks. these are our first silkies...or any kind of feathered foot chicks. You guys are awesome, I learn so much on BYC!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Most have 4, but Silkies, Faverolles, & a few other breeds sport 5. I had a Spitzhauben hen once that had 7 on each foot. Her name was Mo-toe. She had mo toe than she needed.

 

[JulieNKC]

One of my silkies has 5 toes on one foot, and 6 on the other.

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:

Mo-toe!

....only you.....

 

[Mommy2Blaze]

Quote:
OMG this one killed me!