Katiegeez
Chirping
Good evening all!
Yesterday, we noticed one of our "Silked Easter Eggers" from MPC had a very, very slight limp. I examined her feet, and noticed she has two separate... anatomies (anaTOEmies? )? for either foot. Nothing else seemed off, and I did not notice any kind of limp today, so I am hoping it was just a one-off thing, but I am wondering if anyone else thinks the toes differences might become an issue down the road.
I've attached photos so you can see what I mean, as I'm not exactly sure I would be able to describe the differences very well otherwise. One foot seems classic Silkie -- extra toe in the expected position. The other foot seems to have permanently crossed toes. On the foot where her toes seem "crossed," that is just how the bones are, the toes are simply stuck, solid, in the position in the photo. They do not splay apart like in the "normal" foot. Honestly, I am assuming this is a result of questionable breeding practices on MPC's part. None of the three "Silked Easter Eggers" I received lay the as-advertised blue eggs -- all three lay typical Silkie eggs, and all three look vastly different in general appearance. I am also attaching a photo of the Silkie in question (Shelly) and her sister (Rocker) so you can see what I mean.
"Normal" foot.
"Crossed Toes" foot. The toes DO NOT move away from the position they are in.
Chicken in question, Shelly, is the hen on the right, without the poof. They are supposed to be the same breed of chicken.
Yesterday, we noticed one of our "Silked Easter Eggers" from MPC had a very, very slight limp. I examined her feet, and noticed she has two separate... anatomies (anaTOEmies? )? for either foot. Nothing else seemed off, and I did not notice any kind of limp today, so I am hoping it was just a one-off thing, but I am wondering if anyone else thinks the toes differences might become an issue down the road.
I've attached photos so you can see what I mean, as I'm not exactly sure I would be able to describe the differences very well otherwise. One foot seems classic Silkie -- extra toe in the expected position. The other foot seems to have permanently crossed toes. On the foot where her toes seem "crossed," that is just how the bones are, the toes are simply stuck, solid, in the position in the photo. They do not splay apart like in the "normal" foot. Honestly, I am assuming this is a result of questionable breeding practices on MPC's part. None of the three "Silked Easter Eggers" I received lay the as-advertised blue eggs -- all three lay typical Silkie eggs, and all three look vastly different in general appearance. I am also attaching a photo of the Silkie in question (Shelly) and her sister (Rocker) so you can see what I mean.
"Normal" foot.
"Crossed Toes" foot. The toes DO NOT move away from the position they are in.
Chicken in question, Shelly, is the hen on the right, without the poof. They are supposed to be the same breed of chicken.