So, i did a "thing"....

[kcan2]

I found a picture of buzzard chicks! Besides their overall floofiness, they are verifiably pretty creepy... so, I think the cuteness scale at least tips in favor of your babies:

 

[samanthaoverton]

I found a picture of buzzard chicks! Besides their overall floofiness, they are verifiably pretty creepy... so, I think the cuteness scale at least tips in favor of your babies:
View attachment 3287726

I agree..the chicks are more cute lol. Man vulture babies uhh kinda ugly..not even so ugly it's cute..just ugly. It's the face. If there was a different head on the body there cause would be helped

 

[Stacaroni]

Do you have any update photos? I would love to see how they're progressing.

Also, I've read vaulted skulls are a thing especially with Silkies. Sometimes they're still bony but some of them are actually open on top. Lancing might be closer to a lobotomy...

 

[RDchicken99]

Man, those are some ugly babies.…. I love them!
I need more pics of those little buggers!

 

[K0k0shka]

Breeding animals with deformities is just cruel. That one with the lump has some form of vaulted skull. Vaulted skulls are, unfortunately, common in silkies, and, even more unfortunately, liked by some people and bred for intentionally, because the bulge (when properly covered with feathers) makes the crest appear bigger. I really wish more people understood what a vaulted skull was and saw why it's bad to breed defective animals like this. It's not just about the looks. A vaulted skull isn't fully closed on top and doesn't have a normal shape. Often, the brain is left exposed under the skin, and the chick is vulnerable to head injury and death. Simple things like being tapped on the head can kill it. Why would anybody breed animals with holes in their heads? "Because it's cute" is behind a lot of unnecessary animal suffering and death - from chickens with holes in their heads to flat-faced dogs that can't breathe. I hope the breeder was preparing to cull these to clean the gene pool of the vaulted skull trait, and won't actually be perpetuating it. It was very kind of you to bring the chicks home. Just please don't breed them.

 

[GingerRose]

Man, those are some ugly babies.…. I love them!
I need more pics of those little buggers!

They are still very ugly.
They are very sweet too.
I am heading out to snap some more photos soon.

 

[K0k0shka]

I would NEVER allow these to hatch eggs.
I have 9 total "special needs" chickens.
None of which I would sell or allow to hatch chicks of their own.
However, I DO! plan on them living a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.
If one happens to be a hen, if she becomes broody, I will absolutely allow her to have the opportunity to hatch another hens eggs.

YOU shouldnt be so audacious to think anyone with a whole LARGE coop, specially designed with 9 special needs chickens in mind, to be so stupid.

Did you even read the whole story?

Wow, that was unnecessarily sharp and defensive. My post was broad and informative for the forum community as a whole, to explain what the lump was and the context. Not everybody knows what that is, so this is a learning opportunity. And not knowing doesn't make you stupid. That's why these forums exist, for us to learn.

 

[Missyschix13]

Wow. You were not exaggerating their unattractiveness. Are you sure they aren't silkied buzzards? You're very kind-hearted.

Hahahaha I was thinking the same thing! They look like buzzards! Cute ugly.

 

[GingerRose]

Wow, that was unnecessarily sharp and defensive. My post was broad and informative for the forum community as a whole, to explain what the lump was and the context. Not everybody knows what that is, so this is a learning opportunity. And not knowing doesn't make you stupid. That's why these forums exist, for us to learn.

I apologize, publically. I actually deleted it before i read this...
Forgive me.
You are correct. Very informative and my aggressive reply was uncalled for.
I had to defend my decision to keep them and allow them to live.
I am very self aware of MY own audacity.

 

[GingerRose]

Odd question. Is the lump soft? Like a cyst that could be poked with a needle or lanced? Maybe filled with puss. My mom did this for a friend that had a puppy. It was gross but the pup wound up being ok.

Okay, the lump....
It has a raised, hard ring?, like bone in back of the lump and continues around the sides, but does not connect in the front. The bone is only about 6 mm high around the lump.
The lump itself is not squishy at all. It feels sort of like the end of a pinky finger.
It didnt seem to bother him for me to touch it, only didnt like being held still.
ZipTie is a sweet little thing.
Asleep on my coop table in the sun.