The extra toe gene: how does it work, exactly?

[Flock Leader]

Just to clarify: I don't think I could ever eat a silkie either! They are too cute. But if a bird isn't kosher, its eggs aren't kosher either. I don't know, perhaps we might still have Silkies (too gorgeous! I'm staring at pictures here and positively drooling.

) - forget all about eggs and just use them as brooders and sell the chicks as pets. Also, did you know some people are actually afraid of chickens and disgusted by them?? I hosted a playgroup in our house today and as the guests were leaving one of the little girls began to cry because our curious chickens approached her. I think "Silkie therapy" could be great in such cases. Even the most determined chicken-hater could not resist a Silkie, I think.

I know Silkies are one of the oldest chicken breeds, but the problem is, no established Jewish community ever existed where Silkies were common, so now they are seen as an exotic novelty.

Sonoran Silkies, thanks a lot for the link!

 

[aoxa]

Just to clarify: I don't think I could ever eat a silkie either! They are too cute. But if a bird isn't kosher, its eggs aren't kosher either. I don't know, perhaps we might still have Silkies (too gorgeous! I'm staring at pictures here and positively drooling.  ) - forget all about eggs and just use them as brooders and sell the chicks as pets. Also, did you know some people are actually afraid of chickens and disgusted by them?? I hosted a playgroup in our house today and as the guests were leaving one of the little girls began to cry because our curious chickens approached her. I think "Silkie therapy" could be great in such cases. Even the most determined chicken-hater could not resist a Silkie, I think.

I know Silkies are one of the oldest chicken breeds, but the problem is, no established Jewish community ever existed where Silkies were common, so now they are seen as an exotic novelty. 

Sonoran Silkies, thanks a lot for the link! 

So use them as brooders They make great mommies. Every single silkie I have has gone broody at least once this year. Some at least 2-3 times.

Kids love them.

How will you find any? Do you know someone who has them?

 

[Flock Leader]

So use them as brooders

They make great mommies. Every single silkie I have has gone broody at least once this year. Some at least 2-3 times.
Kids love them.
How will you find any? Do you know someone who has them?

Finding them is not a problem at all, there are a lot of private breeders around here... although of course one must be careful so as not to be hoodwinked.

Hmm. Perhaps I'll ask my husband to get me some as a birthday present.

 

[aoxa]

So use them as brooders They make great mommies. Every single silkie I have has gone broody at least once this year. Some at least 2-3 times.

Kids love them.

How will you find any? Do you know someone who has them?

Finding them is not a problem at all, there are a lot of private breeders around here... although of course one must be careful so as not to be hoodwinked. 

Hmm. Perhaps I'll ask my husband to get me some as a birthday present. e

If there are private breeders of them, there must be a market.

 

[Debbi]

Just curious about the Kosher aspect. Did the Rabbis not say anything about the black skin and bones of a Silkie? Are 5 toed birds considered birds of prey or carrion eaters? Just wondering where the 5 toes comes into play.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Just curious about the Kosher aspect. Did the Rabbis not say anything about the black skin and bones of a Silkie? Are 5 toed birds considered birds of prey or carrion eaters? Just wondering where the 5 toes comes into play.

I don;t know of any birds of prey or carrion eaters who are 5 toed.

 

[Debbi]

Me either, but she lives in Israel, so I don't know what they may have over there!

 

[aoxa]

I'm looking up silkies and kosher status, and everything I am finding points to they are Kosher. How much did you research this?

he Aracouna chicken is rarely available in its pure form, but there are a number of restaurants which have expressed interest in serving the sky blue eggs. At this point the Orthodox Union is attempting to find a breeder flock which is of pure lineage so that the eggs might be available. If the Aracouna chicken is simply the result of a genetic mutation, then it would be kosher, as are all other breeds of chicken. However, if the Aracouna chicken was developed through a unique and as of yet unknown domestication event, or through the hybridizations with unknown species, the bird cannot be certified.

http://www.njjewishnews.com/article/4878/kosher-food-seminar-is-for-the-birds-and-bugs#.UKwv80ITthA

 

[Flock Leader]

I'm looking up silkies and kosher status, and everything I am finding points to they are Kosher. How much did you research this?
http://www.njjewishnews.com/article/4878/kosher-food-seminar-is-for-the-birds-and-bugs#.UKwv80ITthA

I've read the article before, and contacted the rabbi who led that seminar. He told me he isn't sure about the Silkie, and pointed me to an Israeli expert who, as he said, should come up with something more definite. That expert told me that the Silkie can't be eaten because there is no tradition of eating it.

Just curious about the Kosher aspect. Did the Rabbis not say anything about the black skin and bones of a Silkie? Are 5 toed birds considered birds of prey or carrion eaters? Just wondering where the 5 toes comes into play.

Specifically the black skin wasn't discussed, but generally, it is acknowledged that the Silkie is a chicken and probably *should have been* kosher, if there was a tradition of eating it. I know it can be confusing, but basically, there was a point in history when rabbis said, "we're over with 'authorizing' kosher birds, from now on we'll just stick with those who have already always been eaten'. The turkey just narrowly made it in. The peacock, on the other hand, didn't - the tradition was lost at some point in history and was not reclaimed. But then, the Silkie is a chicken - but it doesn't *look* like a chicken. So, to be on the safe side, we're not allowed to eat it. Yes, I know. I'm not sure it makes sense to me either.

To sum it up... I think if there were enough Orthodox Jews who really cared about "koshering" the Silkie (because to me, it really seems it's prohibited because of a very thinly stretched over-caution or doubt), and really wanted to keep Silkies and be sure their eggs can be eaten and if another breed is crossed with them it won't get "disqualified" because of extra toes, perhaps it could be done. Perhaps it could be decided that chickens are chickens and it's really confusing that a breed should be "non-kosher" because it looks weird (what about Polish? Are THEY kosher? They look weird too). But I don't think there are enough. I am yet to meet one Silkie fancier in Israel who is religiously observant enough to listen to/interact with rabbinical authorities.

 

[Flock Leader]

But anyhow I'm really pleasantly surprised that people who aren't even Jewish take interest in this topic. Also, I've read up on polydactyly yesterday and it was very interesting, turns out the gene isn't as straightforward as I thought.