Missouri White Fluff? Extinct Breed Perhaps?

[ButtercupEnthusiast]

Hello everyone,
Back in late 2024 I was learning about capons and how to perform the procedure. I came across a 1926 magazine called "Capon Gold" by George Beuoy. In this magazine I came across a photo of two 1-year-old capons that were labeled as "Missouri White Fluff". As far as I can tell from the image, they were a large silkied bird with no feather/vaulted skulls crests and clean legged. Perhaps related to Hedemoras? I’ve tried to find more information on this breed/strain for the past year but have yet to find it mentioned anywhere else. Has anyone heard of this breed and know if anyone still breeds it or has it died out? I would love to learn more about it. I began my own breeding project last year to attempt to recreate the birds that I saw in the photo. My goal is to end up with a silkie feathered bird that’s dual purpose, no feather crests, clean legged, no extra toes, no fibromelanosis, blue/green eggs, V-comb, and eventually autosexing.

 

[JedJackson]

It's impossible to know whether those birds are fibro or whether they have lightly feathered legs. I think it is more likely they were derived from Slikies than Hedemora. But it seems to be a variety that is long gone.

If I was trying to create what you are talking about, I would start with Silkies and probably cross them with Orpingtons and Ameraucanas. Unless you want yellow skinned birds. Then I would go with Silkies, heritage Plymouth Rocks or Delawares, and some type of Easter egger like Whiting True Blue, which has fixed blue egg genetics.

Over several generations of crosses and selection, I think it is very possible.

You could use Hedemoras as well, but their silkied feathering seems unreliable. It only pops up in a few of them, so I am not sure if that trait could be fixed.

There are meat type Silkies available, too, which is a head start.