What would you do about this disqualifying trait?

[silkieluver_07]

Hi everyone,

In April I attended a show and a breeder had an adorable little black silkie pullet for sale. She showed me that it had an extra toenail on her one foot. I decided to pass on it just because I didnt want that "gene" in my flock. Here my 4-H leader purchased the pullet and a cockeral for his niece. I entered my birds in our 4-H poultry show and that little pullet beat all my silkies and got best featherleg in the youth show and reserve featherleg in the open show.

Apparently they just clipped off the extra toenail so it was showable. Is this right or wrong? How hard would it have been to breed that extra toenail out if I would have purchased the pullet? I'd love to find some birds from quality breeders. I put in a pile of my money into started birds and they arent what I was looking for.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

I don't show so I cannot say but I would think it should be disqualified

 

[silkieluver_07]

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Well since its toenail was clipped off, the judge wouldn't be able to tell. Do you have any extra silkies your looking to sell?

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Yes I do. I have 4 types of partridge juvies from Peachick and 1 white chick from sassysilkies. Let's meet up. I am not going to breed these colors so they are 4 sale. I also wanted to ask you if the poultry auction you go to in Greencastle is beside the Arby's right off the exit? I went to Chambersburg Thursday to rescue a puppy and saw the stockyard.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Quote:
Yep, the auction that I go to is right beside Arby's. How much were you asking for the partridges and white? Any idea on gender/sex?

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

I don't have a lot into them at this point so...$15 each for the partridge and $25 for the white. They are too young for me to do anything but guess. I don't know a quality partridge silkie so you would have to look them over. I have never bred anything silkie other than bbs. I will go take a walk snap some pics with my phone and post them to my facebook.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Quote:
Okay thankyou!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I have heard of that happening. There is a rule against faking, and in my opinion, clipping off an extra toe is faking. I don't have a problem with someone doing it because the bird has difficulty walking (which would be unusual) or becuse they prefer the look, but I do have a problem with them then showing it.

Extra toes and toenails are pretty easy to breed and select away from, so I wouldn't hesitate to add a bird with the trait if it was in other ways a much better bird. However, at this point I don't need to be adding birds with issues unless it is for a new colour that will take work anyways.

There is another current thread on breeding from birds with DQs that has some very pertinent information.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Quote:
Thanks Sonoran. I'll look for the thread. Our computer just got fixed today and I've been missing out on reading all the recent threads!

 

[pbjmaker]

My showgirl roo has an extra toenail on each foot. I have hatched around 50-60 chicks this year and only a couple have had the extra toenail and one actually had a whole extra toe on each foot. The rest of his offspring have had perfectly good feet.

I was worried about how it would carry on as a trait myself.

I do think it was wrong to just clip off that extra toenail for showing.