Silkie folks: 6 toes = inbreeding? (pic now)

[chicken-owner-31]

I am a complete newbie to chickens and am learning. I got 10 silkie chicks from a hatchery (

) and one of them has 6 toes. His/her foot also doesn't seem to bend in all the normal places. It still gets around just fine. Would this be a result of inbreeding, possibly? I am going to try and get some pics of it to put on here. I'm thinking I should probably cull it, but it is really sweet. I'm hoping to re-home it instead when it gets big enough, why do the sweetest ones have to have issues?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

6 toes in silkies will pop up from time to time, along with 4 toes, and single combs. Doesn't mean they are inbred.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Any pics?

 

[chicken-owner-31]

Just went and got some pics.

It has 6 on both feet. Just thought it was odd. Other than that, and looking like it can't quite put one foot down all the way, it looks exactly like all the others. He/She is about 2.5 weeks old. I noticed it around day 2 or 3 of having them.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Why are you going to cull it? It is typical hatchery stock. Hatchery stock will not produce show quality birds. If it is sweet and gets around fine, why not keep it?

 

[chicken-owner-31]

I was planning on keeping a roo or two and letting them raise some chicks when the time is right. But I didn't want to leave one to breed if I know there is a problem genetically with them. I"m not aiming for show birds, but I want to produce nice pet quality birds, as silkies and pretty little bantams are in high demand around here. So I was thinking I would have to cull it if the 6 toe thing was an indicator of inbreeding. If it isn't, then I have no problem keeping the little buggar! It is one of our favorites!

 

[OwO123]

I am a complete newbie to chickens and am learning. I got 10 silkie chicks from a hatchery (

) and one of them has 6 toes. His/her foot also doesn't seem to bend in all the normal places. It still gets around just fine. Would this be a result of inbreeding, possibly? I am going to try and get some pics of it to put on here. I'm thinking I should probably cull it, but it is really sweet. I'm hoping to re-home it instead when it gets big enough, why do the sweetest ones have to have issues?

I have silkies too and my old one had six toes. This is nor always the case, but most chickens have four toes and roosters have five, but sikie hens have 5 toes an droosters have 6, so it could be inbreeding but you most likely have a rooster. My rooster was really sweet but most roosters aren't, so I ,would just keep an eye on it

 

[Karina McLachlan]

I was planning on keeping a roo or two and letting them raise some chicks when the time is right. But I didn't want to leave one to breed if I know there is a problem genetically with them. I"m not aiming for show birds, but I want to produce nice pet quality birds, as silkies and pretty little bantams are in high demand around here. So I was thinking I would have to cull it if the 6 toe thing was an indicator of inbreeding. If it isn't, then I have no problem keeping the little buggar! It is one of our favorites!

I give mine away. I don't breed from the chickens with extra toes. I've just out bred now breeding back to the rooster.so am in the process of breeding out and only putting back that relates to silkies. Had silkies since I was 11. 57 now lol enjoy. I've showed them to. Now I just breed them for fun.