What is this?

[MamaBelle5]

This isn't really a breed or gender question, but more a "trait" question.

This chick's parents should be an EE sire and a RIR mother. Are those feathers growing out of the one toe or deformed toes? It looks like feathers but either parent has feathered legs. Chick is 3 weeks old.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Interesting, are you 100% positive on the parents? I'm not great at genetics, but that feathering isn't what I would expect from that pairing. Maybe @The Moonshiner can help?

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Those look to be feather stubs! They can actually just pop up and are potentially a different gene than normally feathered legs!
http://www.edelras.nl/chickengenetics/mutations2.html#gen_mut_footfeath

 

[MamaBelle5]

Not 100% sure. Sure the sire is an EE (notice the beard, only other sire I have is barred rock and no EE hens). Not sure on the hen. I tried to mark them as they came out but a couple hatched in pairs, so that made it more difficult. Other hens are amberlink and barred rock, neither are feathered.

I also bought some "Ameraucana" eggs that were EE eggs. If I got confused, she could be from that hatch, but I don't think so. If I recall correctly, the chicks from this hen (Amelia Eggheart) each hatched individually and I took them out before other eggs hatched.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Those look to be feather stubs! They can actually just pop up and are potentially a different gene than normally feathered legs!
http://www.edelras.nl/chickengenetics/mutations2.html#gen_mut_footfeath

This is extremely interesting!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

This is extremely interesting!

Yes! I just went down this loophole a few days ago! Genetics are wild

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Yes! I just went down this loophole a few days ago! Genetics are wild

They really are! I was just saying a few minutes ago how it's like learning another language! I've always been fascinated, so cool.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

They really are! I was just saying a few minutes ago how it's like learning another language! I've always been fascinated, so cool.

I saw this video a while back and even though it's very basic, I thought it was interesting! The account also has some more videos!!

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I saw this video a while back and even though it's very basic, I thought it was interesting! The account also has some more videos!!

Yep! I’ve watched that whole playlist previously.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Those look to be feather stubs! They can actually just pop up and are potentially a different gene than normally feathered legs!
http://www.edelras.nl/chickengenetics/mutations2.html#gen_mut_footfeath

I agree with this.
I know not long ago AC breeders where getting these.