They don’t bother other breeds but do tend to be picked on in a mixed flock due to their gentle nature. Raising chicks from a young age will increase your bird’s attachment to you. Silkies are friendly and the perfect pet for families with young children.
Do silkies like being picked up?
Carry Them Around
Unlike other chickens, silkies love to being held! If they’re relatively new to the flock, you may have a bit of trouble handing them, which is why it’s best to let them get used to your presence first.
Do silkies need to free range?
They are content to be confined, but if allowed to, free-range are great little foragers. The area they forage should be a ‘safe zone’ since they cannot fly to escape predators. Silkies are more renowned as being pets, brooders, and ‘ornamental’ birds.
Are silkie chickens high maintenance?
Silkies like all other chickens require a certain amount of care to keep them happy and healthy, and while they are not a high-maintenance breed, because of their delicate and substantial feathering, they do need a little extra attention to keep them looking super smart and sassy.
Are silkies easy to keep?
The fact that silkie chickens are unable to fly due to their fluffy plumage makes them the easiest of all chickens to keep as pets because they are that much easier to contain. Silkies are also known for their calm, friendly temperament, which makes them exceptionally great pets for homes that have children.
How do you bond with a silkie?
Learning to associate you with food and treats goes a long way towards bonding with them. Cracked corn is my flock’s favorite treat. I use it as a training tool to teach them how to come in at night or if I need them to be somewhere else while I clean out their coop. Another special treat is called Grubblies.
Do Silkies like being cuddled?
Silkies don’t mind getting up close and personal with their human friends, in fact, they quite like being cuddled, kissed and groomed, making them eggcellent pets for young children.
Are silkie hens noisy?
Silkies are known to be less noisy compared to other chicken breeds. This is mainly due to their smaller size making them less capable to produce the volume larger chickens are able to. They have docile natures and tend to be less rowdy, but some silkies can be noisy at times.
Can you mix silkies with other chickens?
Interestingly, in our experience, Silkies usually get on well with other chicken breeds, despite their unusual plumage, presuming you have several (and not just one lone “different” bird).
What temperature is too cold for silkie chickens?
For Cold hardy breeds like the Barnevelder, Silkies and large soft feathered types Should be able to handle 0 F or -18 C with protection from the elements and wind.
What happens if silkies get wet?
Breeds such as silkies or polish can suffer in the rain as their feathering is very loose. Birds that get soaked through to the skin can be at risk for hypothermia. Symptoms of hypothermia in chickens are shaking, low body core temperature, pale or blue comb, pale sinus tissue, and slow labored breathing.
Do silkie chickens need baths?
You do not need to bath chickens on a regular basis, providing they have a large dry dust bath they will keep themselves clean and their feathers in good condition.
Are silkies smart?
Though they are small in stature, silkies are big on personality! My silkies especially are total characters and are actually pretty smart. A silkie roo was the first chicken I trained to walk on a leash and I often took him to events to teach people about raising backyard chickens for eggs.
Are silkies good beginner chickens?
If you’re looking for a friendly, chatty, sweet-natured breed as a first chicken for your children or a companion for yourself, you may just have found your ideal. Silkie chickens are exactly as they look – funny, cuddly and very kind.
How many years do silkies lay eggs?
Silkies will generally consistently lay their eggs for two years or so, then gradually their production will start to decline. A hen won’t simply one day stop laying eggs altogether.
How high can silkies jump?
Silkies can get a lot of power in their legs, as their joints allow for a spring-like extension, from their hips to their knees, to their ankles and feet. This allows silkie chickens to be able to jump about 2-3 feet high if they are really trying. This goes for both Silkie hens & Silkie roosters.
What age are silkies fully feathered?
Silkie hens or pullets generally mature around eight to 10 months and cockerels about 10 to 12 months. They hit their full size around four or five months and get their first real adult set of feathers about this time as well.
At what age can silkies go outside?
If the temperatures outside remain above 65°F (18°C) and the chicks are at least 6 weeks old, I think it’s safe to say that they can move into the coop without supplemental heat. Most chicks can leave the safety and warmth of the brooder at 6 – 8 weeks of age.
How can you tell if a Silkie is male or female?
Crest of Feathers
A female will have a rounded crest, almost in a globe shape. The silkie male will have streamers of longer feathers that stream backward from the lower part of the crest. These streamers are one of the first things an experienced silkie owner will look for to distinguish it from the female.
Do silkies like to be brushed?
Some folks brush their chickens if they are a loose-feather breed, like Silkies, Cochins, or Orpingtons. Some sources recommend brushing Silkies once a week to keep their feathers fluffy and dry, since Silkie feathers aren’t as water-resistant as flat-laying feathers.
Are silkies talkative?
Silkie chickens, while not particularly loud, are more talkative than your average chicken. Their chatty nature is one of the many things that makes them so endearing.