Silkie without leg feathers??

[ErinEliz]

OH! I found a way around not being able to post pics- I changed my profile pic to one of three of my chicks. The two on the left are the ones with clean legs, the one on the right has feathered legs. All are the same age and came from the same place (not that that means much...)

 

[Lolipop]

silkies should never have clean legs at any age. can you post a pic please

If you don't want to show them, they can have clean legs. They might even get their leg feathers when they get older.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

They wont get their leg feathers as they get older. They're either there when they hatch or they're not. If they're just pets, the clean legs wont make a bit of difference

 

[Meanstreak]

I'm in southern Ohio and sorted out the Banty bin at TSC to get 6 white silkie babies. None are bearded, but all have 5 toes, (one slipped a 6th toe in on me :\ ) feathered legs, and dark skin, but, some only have a few feather starts here and there on their middle toes. It just makes me wonder if they'll pop in more feathers on that middle toe or not. I remember a lot more toe feathering when I was sifting through the bin. Mine are about the same age. 3-4 weeks. I wasn't expecting much coming from TSC/hatchery, but I'm so not willing to pay shipping to the house, and I'm SOL when it comes to a local breeder in southern Ohio. Started looking 2 hours away in Kentucky. :\

 

[ErinEliz]

Mine agree about 5-6 wks now and two of them have no leg feathering at all. The other four are getting very fluffy legs, but just on the outside surface, not on their toes. I am interested to see what they look like when they are totaly feathered out. They are all adorable in my eyes no matter how many feathers they have, and great personalities too!

 

[lamberts chooks]

I'm a tad confused here- i have a white silkie, unsure on age, but not crowing/laying yet, he/she has no leg feathers. Granted I have no plans on showing, but I'd be pretty annoyed to think I've purchased anything other than a "proper" silkie! Is she pure? Just feels a lil like buying a polish without the hairdo!!!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Un-feathered shanks aren't desirable in Silkies, but they do happen (just like the wrong number of toes, improper combs, ect). And your Silkie should have a crest, like a Polish.
You see a lot of undesirable traits coming from hatcheries, and that's where places like the co-op and TSC get their chicks. They focus on quantity, not quality, so whatever hatches is shipped out and sold, with no regards to the standard.

Did you get your birds from a farm store or a breeder? If they came from a breeder, I'd urge you to find another one. If they came from a farm store, I'd urge you to find a breeder

 

[lamberts chooks]

I got her from a breeder, who did also say if she turned out to be a cockeral I could exchange for a hen (however by that point I'll be too attached). Feel pretty short changed on this n very annoyed. The fluffy legs are all part of the cute, fluffy, silkie package!

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

silkies should never have clean legs at any age. can you post a pic please

I noticed my newest silkie has naked legs & feet.If I look closely I see small & very very FEW If any feathers .She is 4 months old.I have 2 more that are 2 months old they were born with very feathered feet and legs .one even only has 4 toes.
Attaching a pic of my naked leg lady. BUT KEEP IN MIND there ate very few visible small white feathers .very small almost undetectable.Is this in the breeding ? I purchase mine from a farm breeder.

 

[Swbertrand1]

I noticed my newest silkie has naked legs & feet.If I look closely I see small & very very FEW If any feathers .She is 4 months old.I have 2 more that are 2 months old they were born with very feathered feet and legs .one even only has 4 toes.
Attaching a pic of my naked leg lady. BUT KEEP IN MIND there ate very few visible small white feathers .very small almost undetectable.Is this in the breeding ? I purchase mine from a farm breeder.

You're replying to a thread in which the last post was over 6 years ago, but Silkies do come with naked legs from time to time, likely from cross-breeding or barnyard mixes.

We have a few with very little leg/feet feathering...