Let's Talk Toes

[flspnr]

I have 3 baby silkies 8 1/2 Weeks old. How many toes should they have?

Yeah, that sounds silly. But my big chickens, a OEGB, 2 RIRs, and a BR all have 4 toes on each foot. My silkies have 4 toes on one foot, and 5 on the left.

Is that weird? Will they be ok as they grow? They seem to be fine now, never noticed a problem with them walking. Actually, I only noticed because my husband thought one of the girls was growing a spur, so I looked close, and nope, it was how she was walking she had the back half of her foot up, it's not a spur. Between two toes she has an extra little toe. And, so do the other babies.

So, they'll be ok? I wasn't planning on breeding any chickens, can't have roosters, so that's not a problem, I just want them to be healthy happy chickens.

 

[aoxa]

5 on each foot

ETA: Yes they will be fine. They are just not show chickens. They will be happy and great broodys (if you ever decide to put fertile eggs from somewhere else under them). Not sure if anyone has had a silkie that is a good production bird, but they are great for children and some people love having them around (I am one of them).

 

[flspnr]

So the feet with only 4 toes are the weird ones? Are they ok with 4 on one foot and 5 on the other?

 

[SteveBaz]

Do you think thy may run in a circle bc one foot has an advantage over the other?

No I am making a funny bc they are

every one that is born.

 

[nicokl502]

they will be fine they just won't be able to jump as high as others, i had one that had a broken toe when i got her and she was fine but she did have problems with laying her 1st egg but it's wasn't because of her toes

 

[Wnunezcruz]

The silkie standard is five toes on each foot but if you just have them for pets it's ok to have not enough toes or more than the standard toes.