Love your blog, its been really fun reading it and relating. This AnimalSake article is a compilation of some interesting silkworm facts. In North America, these fowls are bantam-sized. Help. Silkie Feathers. In China, where Silkies were first bred, women eat these birds after giving birth to get their strength back. Required fields are marked *. Black silkie chicken. They tend to be more gentle and timid, but can hold their own if conflict arises. Most popular in Australia for kids and anyone who loves cute, fluffy & quirky. Silkies are a cute, fluffy, small breed chicken with a calm personality. She is so patient and attentive to it. The Silkie chicken is one of the most popular chicken breeds today. In fact, the Chinese call them wu gu ji, which literally translates to ‘black-boned chicken’. I have silkies and can attest to all your facts( except eating them:) but found the bunny comment funny as I have had two bunnies in the coop with my gang and they get along great! The overall BEST breed on my farm:). ► This breed is believed to have originated in China, although it is not known when. I wouldn’t be concerned, the feathers on their feet may grow in and may not. Production: Silkies are one of the most popular breeds for exhibition and are quite common. We thought something was wrong with our Silkie rooster when we noticed his ears were turning blue. You see, its peculiarity doesn’t end there. Although the word 'Millipede' means 'thousand feet', these creatures have around hundred feet. ► The two distinct varieties of silkies include bearded and non-bearded. 4 minutes read. Silkie Chicken Qualities Silkies are not the best egg layers, producing only around 100 eggs a year, nor do they make the best fryers. Some of the negatives of this breed are their broodiness when laying eggs and the fact that sometimes they need a little more care than other breeds of chickens. About Silkie Chickens. In fact, they were bright turquoise! And they do “favor “. Because they can’t see animals coming out of this blind spot it makes them … They will patiently incubate those eggs and lovingly care for whatever comes out of them. I was worried I got mutants but apparently the more toes and merrier! Not only are they the cutest chickens (in my opinion, but look at those images! Besides laying about three cream-colored eggs per week themselves, they are routinely used to hatch eggs belonging to other breeds and bird species. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Commonly, Silkies work best as decorative chickens and show birds. The chickens have black skin and bones. They would tower over her in just a few weeks! Bearded and non-bearded Silkies have a feathery crest, or topknot, on the top of their head. Besides the silly fur-like feathers that make a Silkie look like a Muppet, these birds have several other weirdo traits that make them stand out. Silkies are chickens that have a unique appearance. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Aww I’m so glad you’re enjoying them! Please feel free to link to or Pin any of these posts with credit and a link back, but do not copy, take images, or content from this site without my permission. They will proudly raise the babies of uninterested flock mates. Lovely freindly funny little birs! As they mature, you’ll also notice their combs and wattles have a reddish hue to them. If they have a bad temperament there’s very little you can do to fix it unfortunately, it’s time for them to go. Already thinking about making our coop bigger and getting some more silkies, in different colours, next year. Because of these qualities, they are also the most recommended chicken breed for children. What to Do When Your Vegetable Garden Fails ». Thanks so much for your Silkie article. “How interesting!” we said. Beneath all the soft, fluffy exterior, you may be … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since our rooster is a cross breed, and we have such variety of breeds in our hens, whatever comes out of those eggs is going to be quite a surprise. We sell thousands of them each year, mostly for pets or for the backyard flock because they are such spectacular mothers and will happily hatch most any type of egg and brood the young. Silkies are a cute, fluffy, small breed chicken with a calm personality. Unusual Look – Silkies chickens are most known by their dramatic look. ► Silkies seemed to have traveled to Europe, having made the journey with traders using the Silk Route. Their feathers are soft and resemble fur. Even with the extra toe (or perhaps because of it) our Silkie, Mokey is a clumsy lady. So much help for a newby. Thanks for the info on the toes. It’s no secret that Silkies make wonderful mothers. Can You Eat Silkie Chicken Eggs? The two distinct varieties of silkies include bearded and non-bearded. If they do, try mixing it 50/50 with their chick food until they’re used to the new stuff. Silkie chicken is a very unique looking and beautiful bird. Question: At what age can you start to determine the sex of a chick? ), but they have some unique characteristics. You can free range these birds, as they are hardy despite their appearance. When his comb and wattles started coming in purplish maroon, I was sure we had some kind of circus freak on our hands. I’d probably pay good money for one too. Bearded Silkies have an additional group of feathers under their beak, which covers their earlobes. I can’t even imagine our one pound bird raising a bunch of turkeys. We have had several nice silkie roosters but have heard from others that silkies can be mean. Silkies also have dark blue/black skin, meat, and bones. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventures with these delightful creatures, and I hope you learned a little something too! There are a lot of chickens out there described as a specific breed when they're actually a hybrid. Cheers, In our experience Silkies get along well with every breed. Thankyou for you lovely website, very informative. The usual weight of a … These traits make them ideal as pets that enjoy attention and frequent handling. Silkies are one of the most popular breeds of chicken out there. They lay eggs and are easy to breed and care for. Silkies are usually considered to be smaller in size and weight as compared to other chicken breeds. We have four silkie hens in chocolate and lavender color and one blue silkie rooster. The non-bearded have large wattles that are about 25 to 40 mm in length below the beak. Other chicken breeds may share one or two of these features, but only the Silkie shares such a unique combination of genetic and behavioral traits. They are very sweet and love to be held and pet. You are right, they are strange, awkward, and hilarious animals, and our flock would not be complete without them! It is among the most docile of p The Silkie chicken always brings a smile to peoples’ faces. Silkie Chicken Eggs. Any blue variety ordered from Purely Poultry may include silkie chicks with black, blue or splash plumage patterns. I just bought 2 silkies, at least I was told they are silkies. Silkie Chicken Informational Facts Learning about Silkie Chickens: History, Appearance, Characteristics, Egg Laying, Temperament, Size. In fact, the earliest surviving written account about them was actually penned by Marco Polo in the 13th century, mentioning a furry chicken, writing about his travels in Asia. You can keep them in a coop within a fenced yarn, ensuring protection from their predators which include dogs, cats, and prey birds such as owls and hawks. Silkie feathers: The feathers are perhaps the most noticeable characteristic of the Silkie, being soft … Because of the docile nature of these birds and the fact that they don’t make much noise and can barely fly, many people keep them as pets. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Besides, silkies have a very calm and docile temperament, which makes them perfect to keep even around children. All content is ©2019 Rachel Arsenault | Grow a Good Life Media. Their primary characteristic is their Silkie feathers, which look more like fur than like … I have had my silky a couple months I had two roo,all of a sudden they died ,,I have 4 hens they are fine so far ,,,,,,,,,what could have happen to them ,,,,thank you,,,,,ruby,,. Although it is commonly mistaken as a bantam breed, Silkie chickens actually vary in terms of size according to region. I love how gentle & docile they are. As with any poultry, you need to make sure you buy from a reputable breeder. These traits make them ideal as pets that enjoy attention and frequent handling. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. This post is dedicated to interesting facts about this beautiful fowl that has its origins in England. Order now for estimated delivery by … ► It took some time before the breed got officially accepted in North America. They also have good maternal instincts, willing to sit on other birds’ eggs, even turkeys. ImaginAcres is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 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