![]() ![]() Females are more prone due to the stress caused by laying, and the disease often manifests just as the bird comes into lay. The virus quickly develops in the body and becomes latent until symptoms appear between four weeks and several months later, usually as a result of stress. Infection is by the inhalation of feather debris as this is where the virus sheds. lesions and tumours in blood vessels and the digestive system. Marek’s can affect most of the systems of the body where tumours interfere with normal functioning, e.g. Torticollis (twisted neck, seahorse neck) may be present but should not be confused with water on the brain. That said, it is still not a common disease and many silkie problems are attributed to it – the only sure diagnosis is post mortem by a veterinary surgeon.Ī herpes type virus identified by Josef Marek, it infects the lymphoid tissue, commonly causing tumours and damage to the peripheral nerves resulting in paralysis, typically of one wing and one leg. None of these issues is particularly serious and many feather-legged chickens are still considered easy keepers, even with these problems.Ī little extra vigilance and dedication will go a long way towards keeping your chickens comfortable.Unfortunately, silkies are prone to Marek’s disease, and it has been suggested that the dark eye of the silkie contributes to its susceptibility although this has never been firmly proved. Treating scaly leg mites isn’t complicated on a normal chicken but, on one with feathers all over it, it is considerably more challenging.Īlthough many of the feather-leg breeds cope well in cold weather, they are more susceptible to frostbite than the naked-legged varieties.Ĭounterintuitive though that may seem, “if your chickens have a wet or snowy run and get slush or mud embedded in their legs feathers, that can freeze hard and cause frostbite issues”. As the feathers emerge from beneath the leg scales, so they give mites an ideal entry point and easy environment in which to thrive. To avoid this, give your chickens a dry run and plenty of bedding.Ĭhickens with feathered feet are also more prone to scaly leg mites. Get yourself a frizzled Japanese bantam and breed it with a Silkie and, the next thing you know, you’ll have yourself a Sizzle!įluffy-footed chickens are eye-catching and fun, but they do come with their own set of problems.Īs we mentioned earlier, chickens with feathers on their feet don’t do so well in muddy conditions as they transfer that mud to their nests, and their eggs, making them “ vulnerable to bacterial infection”. You can get frizzled Cochins, frizzled Pekins, and even frizzled Polish chickens.įrizzling occurs when the feathers curl outward and upward rather than lying flat against the body and is the result of “ an incomplete dominant gene.” While not a breed in itself, if you want a giggle, you should get a frizzle!įrizzle chickens are a variety of hen that have an abundance of frizzled feathers and fluffed up feet. ![]() ![]() These robust birds are easy to keep and do well in confined areas, although their fluffy feathers provide perfect hiding places for fleas, lice, and other external parasites. They are entertaining birds, however, with calm, friendly dispositions. One of the smallest of the large-breed chickens, the Sultan is primarily ornamental, laying just 50 eggs per year and growing to a maximum weight of around 6lb (2.75kg). The name is directly derived from the Turkish title, Serai-Tavuk, meaning “ fowls of the Sultan.” This striking breed of chicken originated in Turkey and it didn’t take long for it to travel the world, arriving in England in 1854 and the US in 1867. The gorgeous Sultan chicken is a calm, friendly, and striking bird! ![]()
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