Silkie thread!

[BarnGoddess01]

Brachydactyly is the other side of the toes, and is too short outer toes, frequently missing toenails. If the bird has 5 toes, and the hind two are okay (as in less than perfect, but not horrible), brachydactyly would take precedence with me over not quite right 5th toes. FWIW, in Europe it is a DQ, and the European breeders consider it quite important to select against.

I did not know this! Thank you, Sonoran.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Apparently the genes for brachydactyly and feathered toes/shanks are closely related so with Marans, as a virtually brand new breed, we are quite forgiving of brachydactyly. But Silkies have been around for a lot longer. So it seems we don't need to tolerate nearly as much. I must say, I have noticed, I've hatched as many Silkies as Marans. Had several Marans with brachydactyly. No Silkies.

 

[marquisella]

Apparently the genes for brachydactyly and feathered toes/shanks are closely related so with Marans, as a virtually brand new breed, we are quite forgiving of brachydactyly. But Silkies have been around for a lot longer. So it seems we don't need to tolerate nearly as much. I must say, I have noticed, I've hatched as many Silkies as Marans. Had several Marans with brachydactyly. No Silkies.

This can be a headace in Marans, in my experience it is passed on and birds with it should not be used. Marans should be "lightly feathered" and it always shows up in Marans that are too heavily feathered.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
The whole feathered leg thing is a headache with Marans, quite frankly! There is obviously still some issue as to what exactly is "lightly feathered". I know from Crossroads, we were all shocked by the amount of feathering that was desired. It seems NONE of the birds that were shown had enough according to the expert opinions there. So the advice I was given, all other things being equal, brachydactyly is not one of the things I should be overly worried about. I should add, I'm working on a SMALL scale so I don't have a lot to choose from at this point. Thus, brachydactyly is at the VERY bottom of my reasons to cull list.

 

[NovaAman]

Some more pics of my Silkie group! It was so nice out today I was able to get a few nice pics of everyone.

I am pretty sure this one is a little boy, named Capt. Kirk. Still going back and forth on blue or lavender though


I just love this little girl, named Guinan. She is just a ball of fluff!

Another shot of Guinan


This is Guinan's hatchmate, Worf. Keep going back and forth on boy/girl.


The only shot I could get of my splash, hopefully girl Janeway, next to my favorite T'pol, my mystery girl


A nice little group shot, Picard on the ramp, thinking this one is also a boy.

Silkies named after Star Trek... Who woulda thunk it...
They are very nice birds.

 

[marquisella]

The whole feathered leg thing is a headache with Marans, quite frankly! There is obviously still some issue as to what exactly is "lightly feathered". I know from Crossroads, we were all shocked by the amount of feathering that was desired. It seems NONE of the birds that were shown had enough according to the expert opinions there. So the advice I was given, all other things being equal, brachydactyly is not one of the things I should be overly worried about. I should add, I'm working on a SMALL scale so I don't have a lot to choose from at this point. Thus, brachydactyly is at the VERY bottom of my reasons to cull list.

From my own experience, for 4 years I never bred a Marans with brachydactyly when they popped up occasionally, then last year, I had an outstanding rooster with it, and decided to give him a try because all else being equal, he was a great specimen and I didn't notice it until he was older...probably 1/3 of his offspring had brachydactyly and it was obvious that it is something I shouldn't have played with.So, its just my opinion with some experience behind it.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: I just gave away a chick, and later thought--gee, I should have taken photos of those toes. An extra on each foot..instead of the song that never ends, it was the toes that never end..

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: And here I thought silkies were like tribbles!

 

[Hawkeye95]

From my own experience, for 4 years I never bred a Marans with brachydactyly when they popped up occasionally, then last year, I had an outstanding rooster with it, and decided to give him a try because all else being equal, he was a great specimen and I didn't notice it until he was older...probably 1/3 of his offspring had brachydactyly and it was obvious that it is something I shouldn't have played with.So, its just my opinion with some experience behind it.

Good to know! I was planning on not using my brachdactyly bird anyway, but that pretty much clinches it.

I just gave away a chick, and later thought--gee, I should have taken photos of those toes. An extra on each foot..instead of the song that never ends, it was the toes that never end..

OOooh, that would have been neat to see!! Too bad you didn't get a pic to post! So funny!

And here I thought silkies were like tribbles!

One of my favorite episodes!!

 

[Adriennesmom]

Absolutely! And, with a glass of wine in the evenings!

At least I've learned to step away from the incubator!!

I am so glad that I'm not the only one that enjoyss watching chicken TV with coffee in the mornings and a glass of wine in the evenings!! Those are my favorite times of the day