What On Earth?

[TinkleTurkey]

This is the spawn of my silkies. First one of theirs i've hatched. There is no chance that it's cross bred with any other breed. Ok, am I crazy because I dont think this is what a silkie is supposed to look like!

it has 4 toes, not five (maybe the fifth one isnt visible yet?)
and whats with the big bubble on his head?

 

[cococrisp]

I don't know. Maybe wait till he fluffs out to get a better look. Maybe a different egg just snuck in there????

 

[Illia]

The "bubble" is probably the vaulted skull you're looking at. Like Polish, Silkies should have a large bump on the top of their head; It is a part of their skulls. Often hatchery type Silkies don't have this though, which is why it can appear so unusual to most people.

 

[TinkleTurkey]

Vaulted skull you say? Its huge! I'm glad he's not deformed, then.

What about the 4 toes?

 

[sourland]

Vaulted skull it is. Four toes, not a good thing. Does it have 5 on the other foot? That's what a silky looks like other than the 4 toes. (Actually, it is deformed, but it's a deformity people have selected for. Carried away and too excessive, it can lead to neurological problems.)

 

[TinkleTurkey]

Oh dear... It has 4 toes on each foot with no sign of a 5th... But all my breeders are proper looking silkies with 5 toes. Do you suppose my breeders are genetically defected?

 

[Judy]

I'm not saying this is the wrong forum. But it occurred to me you might get some wiser people if you made a thread on the breeds and genetic forum. I suspect this is a case of not getting what you want to are select for.

 

[Sumatra503]

I've seen several 4 toed silkies. It isn't the proper thing and is probably a recessive showing up. This is your first batch and I'm sure your next few batches will let you know for sure.

 

[TinkleTurkey]

Ok now he's fluffed out and looks quite like a normal silkie baby. Its just that I've never seen one not fluffed out I had no clue they had that bump on their head!

I'll have to wait till the other hatch to find out whats the deal with their toes...

 

[samdeano]

that is all i hatch,don`t worry.it as a good skin color,was it from a splash?