Toe count - genetic?

[newchickychick]

So one of our mystery chicks from Cackle Hatchery was a Crazy Cackle Toppie. It's got a really fun personality so far. But I noticed it's got five toes on one foot (the one splits into two horizontally where Silkies' toes do) but on the other foot, it only has four toes.

I was just mildly curious - if this chicken breeds in the future, is it possible some chicks will be 4 and 5 toed like it? Or will it default to one or the other? I presume Silkies are in the heritage somewhere due to that extra toe, but thought it was quite interesting it was only on one foot! It seems to have no issues at all from it, regarding balance and it certainly has no trouble zooming around. If it was detrimental, at least so far, I wouldn't even contemplate this question, but it is quite a lively and lovely chick so far! (I'll add pics tomorrow. For now, everyone's in bed and I'm letting the peace reign. )

 

[Debbie292d]

So one of our mystery chicks from Cackle Hatchery was a Crazy Cackle Toppie. It's got a really fun personality so far. But I noticed it's got five toes on one foot (the one splits into two horizontally where Silkies' toes do) but on the other foot, it only has four toes.

I was just mildly curious - if this chicken breeds in the future, is it possible some chicks will be 4 and 5 toed like it? Or will it default to one or the other? I presume Silkies are in the heritage somewhere due to that extra toe, but thought it was quite interesting it was only on one foot! It seems to have no issues at all from it, regarding balance and it certainly has no trouble zooming around. If it was detrimental, at least so far, I wouldn't even contemplate this question, but it is quite a lively and lovely chick so far! (I'll add pics tomorrow. For now, everyone's in bed and I'm letting the peace reign. )

There are actually a few other breeds that have five toes besides Silkies: Faverolles, Houdans, and Sultans.

 

[newchickychick]

There are actually a few other breeds that have five toes besides Silkies: Faverolles, Houdans, and Sultans.

Oh yeah! I presumed Silkies because of its head poof and really dark feathers/skin, so I was thinking a black silkie.

The mismatching toes though had me stumped. It's such a cutie!

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh yeah! I presumed Silkies because of its head poof and really dark feathers/skin, so I was thinking a black silkie.

The mismatching toes though had me stumped. It's such a cutie!

Oh, probably a silkie then. With no picture or other description, I didn't know.

I've heard of it happening, though, with silkies, but it's not very common.

 

[newchickychick]

Oh, probably a silkie then. With no picture or other description, I didn't know.

I've heard of it happening, though, with silkies, but it's not very common.

Yeah, I definitely left that detail out. Oops!
The pic will have to wait though as all the babies are asleep and I am not pushing my luck. Otherwise it'll turn into midnight free-for-all chest bump brawl.

Oh wow! I never knew. That's really cool. Would definitely lend to my Silkie theory then. How neat! Do you know if those can pass down their mismatched toes too? Or if they pass down either 4 or 5?

 

[Debbie292d]

Yeah, I definitely left that detail out. Oops!
The pic will have to wait though as all the babies are asleep and I am not pushing my luck. Otherwise it'll turn into midnight free-for-all chest bump brawl.

Oh wow! I never knew. That's really cool. Would definitely lend to my Silkie theory then. How neat! Do you know if those can pass down their mismatched toes too? Or if they pass down either 4 or 5?

They can. I wouldn't breed her and take the chance of passing that gene on. But, I'm selling show-quality silkies. If you want to breed her and keep her offspring yourself or sell them as pet quality, that would work just fine!

 

[The Moonshiner]

Yeah, I definitely left that detail out. Oops!
The pic will have to wait though as all the babies are asleep and I am not pushing my luck. Otherwise it'll turn into midnight free-for-all chest bump brawl.

Oh wow! I never knew. That's really cool. Would definitely lend to my Silkie theory then. How neat! Do you know if those can pass down their mismatched toes too? Or if they pass down either 4 or 5?

It can be passed.

 

[The Moonshiner]

They can. I wouldn't breed her and take the chance of passing that gene on. But, I'm selling show-quality silkies. If you want to breed her and keep her offspring yourself or sell them as pet quality, that would work just fine!

It's already a mixed breed chicken so...

 

[newchickychick]

It can be passed.

That’s so cool! And yeah, I don’t want to show mine. I really admire the people who do! But I’m here for a good mixed flock grab bag of surprise pets time.

They can. I wouldn't breed her and take the chance of passing that gene on. But, I'm selling show-quality silkies. If you want to breed her and keep her offspring yourself or sell them as pet quality, that would work just fine!

Oh yeah, I definitely don’t intend to show! We just plan to keep a couple of roos IF they’re really gentlemanly and get along well, and that would be one of our “keep an eye on”s to keep IF it’s got a great demeanor after puberty. We won’t even contemplate letting broodies sit until we’ve got an incubator and I’ve done thorough research on how to incubate and help chicks hatch IF it’s an emergency JUST in case all goes wrong, but I was so morbidly curious if it’s a one or the other, or if we might get some other funky toe babies. Chicken genetics are so cool!