Silkie a purebred or cross?

[Jennyhaschicks]

I have a silkie that just hatched. The mom is a silkie, but there is a chance the pa could be a silkie or maybe a buff orp.
Is there any way that I could tell this early? Any signs I could look for?

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

If I'm not mistaken, if the father was a Buff Orp, you'd have a smooth feathered bird in the first generation.

Does it have purple skin and a dark colored beak? What about the toes?

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

It does have a dark beak also five toes per foot.

Dark skin too.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Most probably a full Silkie, however I think the polydactyl toes and purple skin are dominant, so its not 100% for sure. If I am not mistaken, when you cross a smooth feathered bird with a Silkie, the first generation of offspring will be smooth feathered with purple skin and 5 toes. Subsequent generations if bread back to a Silkie will then have the Silkie feathering. You'll probably be able to be sure when it starts feathering out.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Quote:
Thanks for the info.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

bread...

Gees my spelling is on the ball today!

You might check with some of the more genetically inclined folks, but this is how I understand it thus far. I could very well be incorrect on some of the above. None-the-less, good luck. I hope it turns out as what you were hoping for.

 

[kentuckysilkies]

You can tell as soon as the wing feathers start to come in. If the BO is the day they will be regular feathers.

Cajun is right about the other traits being dominant.

 

[equus2]

Are the legs clean? Or can you see any feathering?

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

This baby has feathered feet.
Excuse my potential ignorance, but I thought feathered feet are dominant no matter the breed?

 

[chickNjake]

Yes, you are correct, but a full Silkie will have a lot more feathering than a cross.
Sometimes you can even have chicks from a Silkie to 'other' cross where the chick has hardly no feathers on its legs though! (I have 2 in the brooder to prove it!

) also, if I'm not mistaken, which i may be, chicks from a bird with black skin (Silkie) crossed with a bird without black skin (Polish in my case) then 'other' mom x Silkie dad= girls have black skin and Silkie hen x 'other' rooster= boys have black skin!