why doesnt my silkie chick have five toes?

[magsrags]

I've hatched silkies with 5 toes....4 toes....11 toes and 12 toes. Some from really GOOD stock.
LOL
They are all definately silkies (still got them all) and just a gene error.
My little 12 toes (Digit) hen is the sweetest bird I own and she is a keeper. Just not a breeder for anyone else but me.

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
ohhh my 12 toes

Would you happen to have a pic of digit and her 12 toes ? Sounds very interesting, I would like to see !!

 

[standardbanty]

i am taking a genetics course now in school. They can produce a 4 toe bird even though the parents are 5 toed. She can produce a 5 toed too. But you need a detailed pedigree to determine this. in this case the parents had a 25% chance of having a 4 toed bird and they did.

 

[flamingauburnmustang]

Quote:
I won't believe it till I've seen it.

 

[chickarooo]

My pekin has 5 toes and both of her parents had 4 toes and weren't silkies she just sat on 5 eggs 3 were here eggs and 2 were my other chickens my chicks hatched on Sunday and 2 of her 5 chicks had 5 toes even though the farther a were a frizzle and wine dot neither of them have 5 toes so I guest 5 toes is just luck

 

[Fancychooklady]

It's a DQ in showing, but if you are only wanting pet quality what does it matter? 4-5 -6