Silkie breeding and toes

[BuffManM]

Hi guys i was wondering if anybody could help me. I’ve recently bought 2 black silkie hens but they only seem to have 4 toes (on each foot). Does this mean they are crossed with something else?

If I were to put them with a silkie cockerel and hatched some eggs would the offspring have 5
Toes?

I’ve attached a couple of pictures of them.
Thanks guys

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

That means that somewhere down their line there was a standard chicken bred to them. It could be a defect but most likely has something else down the line. As for the 5 toe breeding @LynnaePB may be able to answer.

 

[LynnaePB]

Hi guys i was wondering if anybody could help me. I’ve recently bought 2 black silkie hens but they only seem to have 4 toes (on each foot). Does this mean they are crossed with something else?

If I were to put them with a silkie cockerel and hatched some eggs would the offspring have 5
Toes?

I’ve attached a couple of pictures of them.
Thanks guys

The gene that causes polydactyly (the 5 toes) can be really finicky. Them having 4 toes could be genetic or it could be due to incubation temperature. I believe low temperatures during incubation have been linked to suppression of the 5th toe.

Even the best lines can throw 4 toed offspring sometimes as well as offspring with more than 5 toes.

It may pass on somewhat if it was genetic but it is my understanding that the polydactyly gene is dominant (although it does have variable expression) so it is very likely you'll get some chicks with 5 toes on one or both feet when pairing your 4 toed hens to a 5 toed mate.

 

[BuffManM]

Thankyou for both replies. You have certainly answered my questions and more! Really appreciate it

 

[Aunt Angus]

This is fascinating! I need to learn more about beeeding and genetics.

Lovely Silkies, btw!