6 Toed Silkie

[marymasc]

Might be a silly question and maybe the wrong place to ask but is there a way through genetics that Silkies can have 6 toes? My Silkie Björn has the normal 4 toes and a normal start of the 5th Silkie toe, but then it branches in 2 directions so he (or maybe she? not sure) has 6 toes. On the other foot, the 5th toe is apparently fused with the 6th and has two toenails on one toe. Is this just a weird genetic thing, or could it possibly be a parasitic twin kind of situation? It doesn’t seem to bother him/her, it’s just really weird.

 

[CoopintheWoods]

If it doesn't bother them, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd guess it's a genetic thing, so I wouldn't recommend breeding him/her.

Also, I'd recommend keeping an eye on it to make sure the extra nail doesn't grow into the other toe and trim it if needed. I've had that problem with a hen with a backwards extra toe, since it didn't touch the ground to get worn down.

Best Wishes!

 

[marymasc]

If it doesn't bother them, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd guess it's a genetic thing, so I wouldn't recommend breeding him/her.

Also, I'd recommend keeping an eye on it to make sure the extra nail doesn't grow into the other toe and trim it if needed. I've had that problem with a hen with a backwards extra toe, since it didn't touch the ground to get worn down.

Best Wishes!

Thank you! I wasn’t sure if it was a genetic thing or something else. I’ll keep an eye on it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's just a genetic quirk. I have had in two batches from seperate places, 2 silkie chicks with an extra toe on one foot

 

[marymasc]

It's just a genetic quirk. I have had in two batches from seperate places, 2 silkie chicks with an extra toe on one foot

Okay. Someone else suggested the parasitic twin thing, which didn’t seem to be the case but I figured I’d ask about it anyway. Thank you.

 

[Amer]

It is possible for the gene that causes an extra toe to cause six toes.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Polydactyly in Silkies (and chickens in general) is a combination of genetics and incubation. Apparently incubation temp can contribute. I have had six toed Silkies pop up from normal 5 toed parents, as well as chicks that had only 4 toes or different number of toes on each foot.

From an article I found.

Interestingly, incubation of UCD-Po.003 embryos at an increased temperature (37.7°C rather than the normal 37.3°C) allows for a greater prevalence of the 4-3-2-1-2’ digit pattern and preaxial Po on the wing(s), thereby indicating that a temperature-sensitive element is involved. Likewise, decreased incubation temperatures inhibit the expression of a polydactylous phenotype in most breeds [Sturkie, 1943; Warren, 1944 and references therein]. Since UCD-Po.003 individuals share the same inbred genetic background [see Robb et al., 2011 for further description], 1 potential source of the phenotype variability could be the incubation environment (i.e. placement of egg proximal or distal from heat source and/or fan).

 

[marymasc]

Polydactyly in Silkies (and chickens in general) is a combination of genetics and incubation. Apparently incubation temp can contribute. I have had six toed Silkies pop up from normal 5 toed parents, as well as chicks that had only 4 toes or different number of toes on each foot.

From an article I found.

Interestingly, incubation of UCD-Po.003 embryos at an increased temperature (37.7°C rather than the normal 37.3°C) allows for a greater prevalence of the 4-3-2-1-2’ digit pattern and preaxial Po on the wing(s), thereby indicating that a temperature-sensitive element is involved. Likewise, decreased incubation temperatures inhibit the expression of a polydactylous phenotype in most breeds [Sturkie, 1943; Warren, 1944 and references therein]. Since UCD-Po.003 individuals share the same inbred genetic background [see Robb et al., 2011 for further description], 1 potential source of the phenotype variability could be the incubation environment (i.e. placement of egg proximal or distal from heat source and/or fan).

Thank you. That’s interesting, I didn’t know about the effect of incubation on things like that. I didn’t hatch Björn so I’m not sure if it could’ve been incubation temperatures. Either way it’s fascinating, Silkies are weird little guys!

 

[GingerRose]

I just found a 6 toed chick.
This chick was hatched by its momma. I did see it at 4 days old, I had forgotten about it until I was checking them all out today.
Strange...
Also, the 5th (back) toe on the other foot is super long.
Anything strange about that?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I just found a 6 toed chick.
This chick was hatched by its momma. I did see it at 4 days old, I had forgotten about it until I was checking them all out today.
Strange...
Also, the 5th (back) toe on the other foot is super long.
Anything strange about that?
View attachment 3235047

That's how the 3 back toes on my naked neck chick us. I think because the extras are shorter and under the normal back toe