silkie feather question

[MNmommy]

I also posted this on the genetics board too but thought you guys could answer it too



I bought 4 silkies from a breeder that says he breeds show quality birds. I have a question regarding the way the feathers are coming in. I don't plan on showing any of my chickens but i did pay more for them compared to a hatchery and I was just wondering if the black ones might be mixed with something else? They are all 11 days old so I know they have a lot of feather to still come in but they just look so different on the wings. Or do some silkies have the flatter normal looking feathers versus the fur look??

I have 2 black ones that look like this. Their feathers seem more flat and normal bird like. (don't mind my lack of terms

) they also have a real lack of feather on the feet compared to the other 2. They also are much bigger and heavier.

the other 2 are much smaller in stature and their feathers look like this with much more feathering on the feet.

 

[nzpouter]

return them, or get a refund.

Those 2 bigger ones are crosses, silkie feather is a rec trait...

silkie x silkie = 100% silkie
silkie x smooth (non carrier) = 100% smooth carrying silkie.

..... on the other hand, if you're looking for broodies, those 2 will be the best around (if they're hens).

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Agreed. The first chick you posted is some type of cross. The feathers are WAY too smooth.

 

[MNmommy]

Thanks I left him an email telling about the 2 birds. We will see what he says. But do you guys know a 100% it is crossed?? Incase he tells me some silkies have smooth feathers I want to feel confident about my claim.

 

[LilPeeps]

Quote:
No silkies have smooth feathers. Silkie feathering is recessive, so any pure silkie out of 2 silkie-feathered parents will have silkie feathers. If any smooth feathered bird not carrying the silkie gene is bred with a silkie feathered bird, 100% of the offspring would be smooth feathered, het for silkie feathering. That chick is a mix.

 

[MNmommy]

UGGGGGG I just called him and he said he would give me credit for next year. I'm like I won't need to buy chicks next year because we can only have a set number of chickens where I live and I don't need anymore and I thought I was buying pure silkies. He said they bought some new line at a show and thought they were getting pure silkies. We kept running around the issue that I didn't get what I paid for and all he kept saying was next year I can have credit!!!! UGGGGG so now i am stuck with crosses that if they turn out to be roos I can't even turn around and sell them. I am just really disappointed. I don't know i guess I will see what they turn out to be and hopefully they will be sweet hens??? or else they will be freebies for someone.


I feel like calling him back and say hey I will bring these 2 back to you and you can give me 2 "real" silkies now.


what would you guys do??

 

[nzpouter]

I won't take the offer of any credit.... return the bird to him and get your money back... no point feeding something you'll have difficulty to get rid of later.

 

[vfem]

Tell him you'll return the bird! Either get a pure one somewhere else or have him give you a pure one. If it ended up a bad buy for him, doesn't mean it should be a bad by for you.

I know mine are pure, they just aren't the most gorgeous! But not have normal feathering, just the classic feathering. Plus that bird isn't even pure black?!?! It has a grey gene somewhere?!

Let him know you are not accepting a credit... he needs to replace the bird or your money.

 

[LilPeeps]

I agree, you should tell him you want to return the mixes and you want either a refund or pure silkies in exchange.

Quote:
The chick is blue.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Ask to return the birds and get your money back. Of course, some sellers (including me), wont take birds back due to biosecurity reasons.

I would tell him that you want your money back. Its not right at all.