Description
Silkie Chickens
Chinese Silk Chickens, also known as Silkie or Silky chickens, are a popular backyard pet.
They are a commonly found, ornamental breed. Silkies are known for being fluffy!
They are named ‘Silkie’ because of their soft silk-like feathers which are more like fur or the down of other birds.
Silkies can come in solid colours or in patterns. Those officially recognised are either:
These fluffy chickens are cute! They have the “awwwww” factor, so if you are looking for a pet chicken, get yourself a Silkie. These bantam chickens are gentle, quieter than most, docile and like people. They don’t fly well, and they don’t mind being confined. Their feathers are described as “soft,” “downy,” and “fur-like”. These birds do not have barbicels, which allows their feathers spread out rather than hold together which looks like fur.
Silkie Recognized Variety
The various silkie bantam chicken breeds we have for sale give you a variety of color choices. The black silkie chicken is particularly popular.
Any blue variety ordered from Purely Poultry may include silkie chicks with black, blue or splash plumage patterns.
Silkie Chicken Eggs
Production: Silkies are one of the most popular breeds for exhibition and are quite common. Silkie bantam chickens are not considered good layers as they tend to be broody, wanting to set on the bantam silkie chicken eggs instead. Their skin, bones, and meat are bluish-black and they are seen as a gourmet food for some.
While many Silkies are kept as pets, some breeders also keep them because they are exceptionally broody and good mothers. A Silkie will hatch just about any other kind of egg and will mother the chicks. Because they are so docile and good-natured, they sometimes suffer bullying by more aggressive breeds when kept in mixed flocks.
Silkie Roosters
Silkie roosters have unique feathers other than the fuzzy ones typical of the breed. They have pointed hackle and saddle feathers that are more like other birds. They also might have a pointed tail and have spurs.
History: No one is exactly sure where Silkie chickens originated, but Marco Polo did mention black-skinned, furry chickens in his travels through Asia during the 13th century. There is speculation that the breed was brought west through the silk trade, but no one knows for sure.
There have been many myths about Silkies. They have been billed as being covered in mammal fur, being a hybrid of a chicken and a rabbit, and as having miracle healing properties. Of course, none of the myths are true, and though they are unusual chickens, Silkies are, indeed, just chickens.
The American Silkie Bantam Club was established in 1923 and continues as a strong organization today. They host poultry shows, publish a quarterly newsletter, an annual breeders directory, as well as host online forums and provide information about Silkies regularly to members.
Silkie Chicken Colors: Black, Blue, Buff, White and many more
Conservation Status:Common
Weight: Cockerel 32 oz, Pullet 28 oz
APA Class: Feather Legged Bantam
Raise Baby Chicks
Baby chicken are fairly easy to raise, if you follow a few simple steps.
They will be happiest if you keep their brooder temperature at 35°C-37°C degrees for the first week, then lower the temperature by about 5 degrees per week until they are fully feathered, approximately 6-8 weeks old. They will still appreciate a heat lamp at night for a few weeks after this period if the nights are cool. You can tell if they are comfortable by the way they arrange themselves in the brooder: all clumped under the heat source, they are too cold; all far away from the heat source, they are too hot; spread all over the brooder, they are comfortable. They will also cheep if they are cold or ill, and will be fairly quiet if they are happy. Always make sure they have room to get away from the heat.
Keep them clean and dry. wood shavings or rice hulls make good bedding. Never brood them on slick surfaces like newspaper. Never give a chicks cold water – cold water can be deadly to chicks. The water should always be lukewarm, and it is a good idea to add a vitamin and electrolyte supplement to their water. You can also get them eating and drinking well by placing shiny colored marbles in the feed and water to get their attention. Change waterers daily or when they get dirty.
