Silkie Light Brahma

[Badger91]

Hi all, hope you can help.

I’ve hatched out 14 light Brahma banties this year, and 4 of them are silkie feathered!

I’ve studied all over them and the adult birds, and can’t find any Silkie characteristics other than the feathers. Normal pea comb, normal toes, pink skin and yellow legs, red ear lobes, no crest or beard.

I have attached photos to show.

Any advise would be great.

Thanks

 

[Hen-Gen]

Well that’s a lucky break. If both parents carried a copy of the Silkie feathered gene then you would expect approximately 25% of the chicks to hatch out with Silkie feathering which is what you have. Are the two parents related to one another?
I have seen pictures of Silkie feathered Brahmas which have had the dark skin bred out of them. Also it would not be hard for their creators to select away from the Silkie type comb and the extra toe and reestablish the pea comb which is required in the Brahma.
Though I’m no great lover of either Silkies or Brahmas your birds will certainly be eye catching and much sought after.
But do not be tempted to mate brother to sister to get 100% Silkie feathered chicks. An out cross to an unrelated normal feathered bird then crossing back to the Silkie feathered birds will give eggs that hatch to give 50% Silkie feathered birds but with no reduction in vigour or fertility.