One silkie has a different type of comb

[Jennyhaschicks]

I have four silkeis who are about 5 weeks old. One of them is an oddball. She or he has a different type of comb then the others. The three have the regular silkie comb, but this one has sort of a single comb. It sticks up higher and has ridges as well. Sorry, I don't have pics right now.
Is this normal? I have never had or dealt with silkies before.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

It is highly common in hatchery type birds.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

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These birds came from a friend of mine who hatched them out. As far as I know they came from a backyard chicken momma. I guess anything can happen though. They could have originated from a hatchery??

 

[BayCityBabe]

My hatchery silkies all had the single comb - all were roos.

My acquired silkie hens do not have visible combs & are more petite.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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She may have gotten hatching eggs from someone who got their birds from a hatchery. Or perhaps there had been some outcrosses with single combed breeds a few generations back. Either way, single combs can pop up. It doesn't hurt the birds to have them, it just prevents you from showing them. But if you only have them for pets, it doesn't really matter either way!

This is why I always advocate purchasing birds or hatching eggs from someone who strives to breed standard quality birds. If you don't your always taking a chance on whats going to pop up in later generations.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Oh, no showing them here. They are just our pets.
I was wondering too if it might be a roo because the bird is quite feisty.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Maybe. They are extremely hard to tell until the start getting closer to 6 months of age, and even then its usually just an educated guess. Roo's aren't always the feisty ones though. I've got a couple hens that whoop up on the roos every know and then. Only time will tell for certain.

And if your not showing, then enjoy the single comb! A lot of people have silkies with single combs...