Naked chicks from Buff Orpingtons

[Amer]

Genetics of the Fowl says that Naked "n" is a sex linked recessive mutation. It causes mortality in embryos and weakness in older birds. Did you say that you had a male and a female? In that case, it wouldn't be Naked.

 

[H-B-O]

I had 2 chicks hatch with no fuzz, totally naked.View attachment 2740636View attachment 2740645 I had to keep them separate from the rest of the hatch (28), because of pecking. They were cold and sad, so I added 2 other chicks to the little broader, and that worked. Its been a few months and they are doing well, although the female is smaller and paler. She has a little bit of fluff now, but the rooster only has a few sad feathers. They are pure bred Buffs. How did this happen? Can I breed them? Or should I donate them? Show them? I call them my weirdos. View attachment 2740634

Wow.. https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chickens-without-feathers-naked-hot-weather-sunburn

 

[NatJ]

From the fact that there were 2 naked chicks and 28 normal ones, I'm guessing it's a recessive gene that is carried by the father and by one of the hens.

The easiest way to check that is test breeding.

--If you breed the female and the male to each other, and you get only naked chicks
--If you breed the female to her father, and you get 50/50 naked chicks and normal chicks
If either or both of those happen, it is most likely caused by a recessive gene, not a combination of genes.

(Breeding the male to his mother should also give 50/50 naked and normal in that case, but the trick is figuring out who the mother is.)

If it's a recessive gene, crossing one to a normal chicken should give normal-looking chicks that carry this naked gene. This could be a way to test whether a chicken carries the naked gene.

If you do NOT want the naked gene, you should probably cull the rooster, and his other offspring, and if you can find the mother of those birds cull her as well. ["Cull" meaning to remove them from that breeding project-- it could mean butchering them, or it could mean using them in a separate breeding project to learn about and spread this gene.]

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Here’s a thread about naked chickens, it’s referred to as the scaleless (sc) gene by the thread starter: https://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/rudy-the-survivor.15278/.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I personally would keep and breed them. I love them and would take them in a heartbeat if I could justify them living inside half the year for winter

 

[Amer]

Here’s a thread about naked chickens, it’s referred to as the scaleless (sc) gene by the thread starter: https://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/rudy-the-survivor.15278/.

Oh right! That’s what it’s called!

 

[KingD]

I had 2 chicks hatch with no fuzz, totally naked.View attachment 2740636View attachment 2740645 I had to keep them separate from the rest of the hatch (28), because of pecking. They were cold and sad, so I added 2 other chicks to the little broader, and that worked. Its been a few months and they are doing well, although the female is smaller and paler. She has a little bit of fluff now, but the rooster only has a few sad feathers. They are pure bred Buffs. How did this happen? Can I breed them? Or should I donate them? Show them? I call them my weirdos. View attachment 2740634

Ready meals

I have never ever seen anything like that! I'd be interested to see some updated photos of them in a few weeks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh right! That’s what it’s called!

Those pics are .. really .... er, interesting.

 

[oldhenmisschick]

I live in Northern Florida, so summers are no problem, except for the mosquitoes, but they seem to be doing ok with that. For the winter, they will have access to a heating pad or a light bulb in their little coop. It does freeze here in the winter.
As far as breeding, I would love to, but there are some problems. The rooster was culled because he was mean as hell, drew blood on me every time I went in the run. The hen is one of 7 running around, so I don't know which one she is. I am retired with a limited income, so I can't do these unique birds justice. If someone wants them and has a good home for them, I am open to that. They need more attention than I have to really give them.

 

[julianahouk]

It must just be some sort of genetic oopsie but they're really cute! Reminds me of that scene from Mulan when the falcon is barbecued by Mushu.