Mixed Bantams: Newbie makes stupid mistake at TSC

[greenpixies]

Hi! I brought home my first chicks ever last night from TSC. I had enquired for the past weeks if they ever get Silkies in their mixed Bantams. A worker who I imagine meant well told me they often get 2 or 3 in every bunch and that I could tell by the feathered legs.

When I went yesterday the new batch were ALL feathered and before I thought about it much I got crazy excited. Here I would be able to chose from several colors of the chickens we have been planning for!

O.K., let me just say that in other areas of life I am not normally stupid, and worse yet I have done a ton of research on Silkies. Why did I not notice that most of them do not have dark legs? I am about to go and count toes -- this I also knew about but as a newbie was afraid to check over all the teeny traumatized chicks. By now I have fallen in love and am over it. So, to get to my questions:
1. Do even white Silkies have dark feet?
2. Does anyone have inside or experience knowledge of what breeds of Bantams are typically included in the mixes at TSC? Let's just say the bantam breeds with feathered legs.
3. Regardless of question 2, can you list Bantam breeds with feathered feet?

I will do toe counts and try to post photos when I can. Thank you for any help!

 

[keesmom]

What they could be depends on where they ordered them from. Brahmas, cochins, sultans and d'Uccles are other feather legged
bantams that come to mind. Baby silkes not only have 5 toes, they also seem to have a "bump" on the top of their heads
where the poof will be. BTW don't forget bantams from any hatchery are always straight run.

 

[sfw2]

Hi, and

TSC does, occasionally get silkies in their bantam mix. All the ones I've seen there had five toes and black feet. Among their other feather-footed bantams, there are usually some d'uccles and/or cochins. As Keesmom said, there are also bantam brahmas and sultans that would have feathered feet.

It's hard to keep a clear head when you're faced with a bin full of fuzzy, peeping, tiny chicks

.

 

[NellaBean]

Last year I got bantam cochins, d'uccles and brahmas from the mixed bantam bin. There were silkies also, I just purposely did not pick them.

Post pix and we can help you figure out what you have.

 

[gryeyes]

It is NOT a mistake, it is a learning experience in acquiring a mixed flock of bantam breeds.

Yup yup yup.

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

Ask your TSC what hatchery they get them from. The ones around here get them from Townline and Mt. Healthy. The people at Townline told me that these were the only bantams that they offer: Bebe Reds, Porcelins, Millefleurs, Golden and Silver Seabrights, White Silkies, Red Pyle Old English, Brown Old English, and Silver Duckwing Old English. Mt. Healthy gave me a very vauge list of their bantams, but they did tell me that they only have black silkies and white Silkies.

 

[greenpixies]

Oh my! You have all been so kind and helpful with your responses! I really appreciate it and it makes me feel very welcome here at BYC on my first day (day 2 of chick mothering).

I will ask at the store where their supply comes from. I am here in Natchitoches, Louisiana. That's northwest Louisiana, just an hour from Texas. Although I'm not overly confident in big-box stores, I would think that these would all be warm - weather tolerant breeds. I have a feeling that there are several cochins, there seem to be a million different varieties of cochins (so I am learning). My husband and I would be very excited to have Brahma's in the mix as that was another breed that we wanted to adopt.

Can anyone with personal experience tell me more about the Sultans and D'unccles? I'd like to learn more about their personalities. I have already read the BYC Breed descriptions -- I need more though.

I am not the most tech-savy person. I have taken digital photos, just have not figured out how to download them. If I can't figure it out before Friday night my husband will be back in town and can probably help me. Stay tuned for photos!

Only one chick has clearly dark legs. A few others...I'm not really sure. Their legs are 'medium'? At only 4 days old, can the pigment darken more in chick legs as they grow or is this it?
Finally: about the toe counting. Is it possible that they are so tiny now that their 4th toe is but a tiny wire like protrusion no more noticeable than some of their feet feathers? A few of the chicks seem to have something extra, but I might be mistaken (thinking wishfully, alas).

I've already fallen in love 7 times over. I was prepared to wait on the sexing determination for several months, but it never occured to me that I would be purchasing from the 'grab bag'. I had intended on special ordering. It absolutely IS a great learning experience, and thanks for that thought gryeyes! And sfw2 -- yes, I was rather defenceless gazing in to that bin of newly hatched cuteness.



--

 

[Harrietsmum]

Good luck with your bantams. They are easy to fall in love with.
Keep making posts on here over the next few days. You need to have made several posts before you will be allowed to post pictures. (This is to stop spammers and other low life posting.)

 

[gryeyes]

I strongly recommend you bookmark this link for use for as long as you own chickens:
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Also: http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html#TOC

 

[key west chick]

You can also check out their tiny combs. Silkies should have just kinda a wide flat bumpley spot. And so will Brahmas. D'Uccles and Cochins will have single combs and Sultans will have funny looking little V-ish shaped combs and they come in 3 colors. Black, white and blue. Maybe that will help some.