Margaret or Mike?

[stephaniemiko]

We have had Margaret for 6 weeks . . . making her about 7 weeks. She has way more comb development than her two EE "sisters," but she is only about a third their size. She is very petite . . . what does this comb indicate? We were told she's a silkie, but she's not turning out that way.

 

[NosiphoChooks]

The feathers look like silky feathers or is that still her down showing in the photos? How many toes does she have? My female silky has no comb to speak of, just a flatish ridge.

 

[stephaniemiko]

There is still down on the tips of her feathers . . . she's almost fully feathered. I think there are five toes, but I'd have to go back and check . . . they're sort of hidden.

 

[donrae]

It looks silkie feathered to me. Maybe a profile shot?

 

[stephaniemiko]

I just realized it's a little sick that I have so many pictures of these birds!

She doesn't have the poofy head that the silkies have.

Do you think she's a she?

 

[Kev]

It is a hatchery stock silkie. Hatcheries are not concerned with meeting the breed standard, more with output of fertile eggs. As a result, hatchery stock generally don't look quite like all those oh so nice looking breed specimens online & some like your bird can have several 'faults' like no crest(pouf) and also having a single comb- supposed to have walnut comb.

The comb is way big at this age, very likely a boy.

 

[stephaniemiko]

Yikes. What do we do with a boy bird?? We're not allowed to have them where we live.