A Silkie has feathers like other chickens, but their feathers lack barbicels, which means that the individual hairs of their feathers are left to grow in a fluffy and untidy fashion, which gives them the look of little cotton balls running around your yard.
Why are Silkies so fluffy?
Their feathers lack barbicels (those are the hooks that hold the feathers together), hence the fluffy appearance. The main feathering looks just like the under-down of regular chickens. The fact that the feathers do not hold together means a Silkie chicken cannot fly.
What is special about Silkie chickens?
In addition to their distinctive physical characteristics, Silkies are well known for their calm, friendly temperament. It is among the most docile of poultry. Hens are also exceptionally broody, and care for young well.
Do Silkie chickens like to cuddle?
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.
What is the rarest color of Silkie?
Red. Red Silkies are a rare variation and not recognized. The color does not exist naturally in Silkies and must be introduced by another breed. Some breeders describe them simply as darker buff variations, although there are breeders specially working on developing red Silkies in Australia.
What is the lifespan of a silkie chicken?
between 7-9 years
A standard silkie chicken will generally live between 7-9 years, however this does all depend on the care given to them. Some Silkies have been known to live longer, so give them a little extra TLC and you’ll have their love for many years to come!
Can you eat silkie chicken?
They are considered small and bony and due to this and the odd color of their skin, meat and bones, they are preferred for soups and stocks. The darker meat of the Silkie chicken is said to taste even better than regular chicken with a much leaner and more gamey feel.
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).
How smart are silkie chickens?
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 aggressive?
Silkie roosters are a less aggressive breed of chicken, and they are mostly known for having a fairly calm temperament. Keeping only one rooster at a time can help reduce incidences of aggression, but it doesn’t mean they won’t happen.
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.
Can two Silkie roosters live together?
That said, most backyard chicken breeds do fine in flocks with multiple roosters. Favorite breeds for roosters (and multiple roosters) include Salmon Faverolles, Plymouth Rocks, Marans, Orpingtons, Australorps, Silkies and Brahmas.
How much are Silkie chickens worth?
Silkie chicks can be purchased for anywhere from $3 to $10 each, while adult hens or roosters can be bought for between $15 and $50 each.
Can 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.
Can Silkies tolerate heat?
Silkies have a harder time with the heat than the cold. Poor eyesight due to large crests can make locating shade and water difficult. Dark colored birds absorb the sun’s rays where light colored birds can reflect it. Use small rubber bands to tie up crests on silkies to help them cool off and find water easily.
Do silkie chickens need baths?
Chickens do not ordinarily need bathing, they maintain their personal hygiene by dust-bathing, which essentially involves rolling in dirt. At the end of a dust bath, the dirt is shaken off and the chicken proceeds to preen and groom its feathers back into place.
Are black Silkies rare?
Even though this genetic mutation is rare and does make the Black Silkie chicken look weird in some ways, it’s not entirely unheard of in the animal world. The same genetic anomaly in poultry can be found in another chicken breed known as Ayam Cemani from Indonesia.
How cold 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. Roosters may need a little extra care because of their large floppy combs.
Are Silkie eggs good?
If you want a chicken that lays lots of eggs, the Silkie is not your bird. They are considered poor layers averaging 2-3 small eggs each week – around 100-120 eggs per year. However they excel in the broodiness department and are fabulous mothers (more on this later).
| Egg Production | |
|---|---|
| Size: | Small to medium. |
Why do Silkies have black meat?
The flesh and skin of these chickens is completely black. Silkies owe their unusual black color to fibromelanosis, a rare genetic mutation of hyperpigmentation believed to have first arisen in China.
How many eggs can a Silkie sit on?
When you have noticed your Silkie is broody you can then put fertile eggs under her, up to 10 bantam eggs, 6 normal hen eggs or 5 duck eggs. She can even sit on larger eggs but I would only put about 2-3 under 1 hen. 3.