The crest can come in late sometimes, but you are right about the feather pattern being off. It is highly probable that a non-spitz fertilized the egg from which that chick came from.
I love genetics & figuring out spitz genetics. We've got a couple things going on here: silver/gold color and...
Sometimes the spitz roosters have really fun personalities, that combined with good looks really makes it tough to stay detached. He certainly is a cutie!
Take lots of picks & watch them as they grow out. Their colors change so much as they grow out that it's tough to know how they'll look until they're big. I haven't seen gender differences as color concentration. Sometimes the pullets will have bigger, fluffier crests than the cockerels, but...
Felt like my fingers were going to freeze off taking this pic, but had to document my crazy spitz who have been outside scratching around all day. Weather.com says it's 16 degrees but feels like 2 degrees w the wind chill. The spitz don't seem to care:
Beautiful chicks! Thank you for sharing!!
I think that light almost solid cream light chamois chick happens with chamois x chamois because the standard chamois color has heterozygous dominant white (I/i) which just covers the spangles. When a chick receives 2 copies of the white gene (I/I) you...
I had a couple with webbed toes early in the year. I thought it was bc the eggs got too cold prior to incubation, bc it was 2 unrelated chicks. The toes were easily corrected with a scalpel and some cornstarch.
The chicks were sold as pets & haven't hatched anymore with webbing since...
Love the video! That's fantastic. And your spitz girls are really developing nicely!! I'm sorry to read about Cuddles. There are always a couple real special ones who weasel their way into our hearts. She was very lucky to have such a devoted & interactive human. Hugs to u & ur family.