Silkie

Silkie

Silkies are one of our favorite breeds—what's not to love about them with their lovely and plentiful plumage, love of cuddling, and incredibly kind nature? Whether you're a fan of silkies or not, we can guarantee that you'll have some stunning new silkie additions to your backyard flock before we can say "bright, beautiful bantams" at the end of this post.

Longevity

Depending on how well they are cared for, a normal silkie chicken can live for anywhere from 7 to 9 years. Give them a little extra TLC because some Silkies have been known to live longer, and you'll enjoy their devotion for many years to come!

Division

Silkie

As a result, they are only available in bantam (miniature) size, and their legs are lavishly feathered.

Variety

Getting your hands on one of these amazing birds shouldn't be difficult because they are a common breed.

History

These magnificent birds, whose namesake feathers feel like silk when touched, have their origins in China before the year 1200. In his travel diaries from Asia in the 13th century, Marco Polo mentioned "chickens with fur-like feathers," which are considered to be Silkies' claim to fame. Following their westward migration, silkies were admitted to the North American Standard of Perfection in 1874. We are fortunate to currently discover silkies in many backyard flocks and all over the world!

Interesting facts

Silkies are distinguished by their black or dark blue skin, which is unusual compared to other chicken breeds that have white skin. This is just another characteristic that makes this breed so exceptional.

Silkies have a strong mother instinct and have even been observed sitting on the eggs of other species, including ducks and turkeys.

 

When rummaging through the grass for bugs and other delectable morsels, chickens' remarkable UV cones in their eyes allow them to perceive many more shades and colors than our eyes can. The silkie is already an excellent mother, but with this UV cone, she can assess the wellbeing of her young.

Present Use and Purpose

In many suburban backyard flocks, Silkie chickens are kept as ornamental breeds primarily for their attractiveness and sweetness as pets. They make for a popular show bird and a beautiful addition to your flock thanks to their unique appearance. Since silkies are such great moms and will frequently sit on less maternal hens' eggs until they hatch, they are a popular choice among individuals who want to maintain chickens for many years to come.

Characteristics and Predisposition

We have yet to encounter a silkie chicken that we haven't falle  in love with—they are one of the cutest and sweetest breeds you will ever meet! They make the ideal pet, especially for kids, as they are eminently docile, kind, and peaceful. Without any hesitation, they will sit in your child's lap and cuddle up while soaking up all the love and attention. Silkies have limited flying abilities and a strong affinity for interacting with people, which makes handling (and cuddling) them much easier than other chickens that can get fairly flighty around people. Have you got neighbors in close proximity? Silkies are a fairly quiet breed that only speaks up when something is about to threaten them or after they have just proudly produced an egg. They are renowned for being excellent.

Hatching and Incubating

Many people elect to eschew conventional incubation in favor of Mother Nature because silkies are renowned for being excellent mothers and broody hens. Silkies have a strong mother instinct and will happily sit on their clutch of eggs until the day they hatch, offering assistance to their young whenever possible. However, due to their dense "under fluff," silkies may cause fatalities in early chicks who become tangled in their feathers.

If you do your own incubation, make sure your incubator is of high quality and has precise humidity control, as this has been known to affect how easily silkies hatch on occasion. Other than that, incubation should be the same as for other breeds. Silkies may take a little more care and work when it comes to hatching. Their enlarged heads and feet, together with the frequently thickened membrane in their shells, can make hatching a little trickier and delicate. You may want to step in and assist the chick as best you can without pushing or pressuring the process any more than necessary if they appear to be having difficulty moving forward after pipping.

Behavior of Eggs

Although silkies aren't known for their egg-laying prowess, they are decent and reliable layers, producing about three adorable cream eggs per week. Even though their eggs are little, don't let that deter you—they are still just as tasty and healthy as ever! Since their thick feathers frequently keep them warm, content, and laying through the cooler months, you may even be lucky enough to have fresh eggs adorning your breakfast table throughout the winter.

Cotton Roosters

Unlike many other breeds, it can be challenging to identify the gender of a Silkie chicken, especially in its infancy.

A fundamental distinction between a Silkie hen and a Silkie rooster is size. Compared to hens, roosters are bigger and have rounder, bigger wattles and combs. Along with the fuzzy feathers, silkie roosters also have unusual feathers. Similar to those of other birds, these feathers are longer, pointed, and firm.

Appearing

The silkie is well known for its incredibly distinctive and stunning appearance. Of course, its most distinctive characteristic is its fluffy, silky plumage, which is so fluffy and cuddly that many have mistaken them for bunnies. A fascinating breed indeed, Silkies also have a variety of very distinctive characteristics that you won't find in many other chicken varieties, such as having five toes instead of four, and dark blue or black flesh, bones, and earlobes.

Caring

While Silkies are not a high-maintenance breed due to their considerable and delicate feathering, they do need a little additional attention to keep them looking exceptionally smart and sassy. Silkies, like all other chickens, require a certain level of care to keep them happy and healthy.

Groom

Silkies will dust bathe and preen themselves to keep themselves looking incredibly sharp, so they don't need any further maintenance. If your fluffy companions do manage to get themselves all dirty, a quick rinse and pat dry will take care of the problem. But since they have more feathers, it's vital to periodically examine them for mites, lice, and other parasites.

Budget

Silkies don't need a special diet, but you should provide them with a well-balanced diet high in protein and a good variety of seeds, grains, and vegetables to keep them in fighting shape. To make sure they get all the nutrition they need to create a profusion of delectable eggs, they should be fed a specialized "layer feed" as they approach the point of lay.

Dwelling

Silkies need a high-quality coop, just like all other chickens, to keep them safe from the elements and bothersome predators. To keep trespassers away, it should be made of durable wood, with a galvanized wire mesh and strong locks. The coop should have enough nesting boxes that are gorgeous and big and in a draft-free environment, as they frequently enjoy sitting on their eggs. Roosts are a crucial component of a silkie's ideal habitat, but it's preferable if they are not too high off the ground because silkies have trouble flying. Make sure their modest home has a run because silkies are lively little birds and need some space to stretch their wonderfully feathered legs.

Health Concerns

Other than what a typical chicken would experience, silkies are not known to suffer from any health issues. However, because of their soft feathers, they are prone to mite and lice infestations, so it's crucial to routinely inspect them for parasites. If parasites are found, make sure they are properly treated, either by you or a veterinarian, as these infestations are known to proliferate and can lead to major health problems for your hens. Make sure you provide your flock access to dust bathing supplies because it's crucial for preventing fleas, mites, and lice. As with all chickens, make sure to regularly worm your silkies as this is another condition that, if left untreated, can have disastrous effects.

Planning is a systematic

Don't let their adorable, placid appearance deceive you—Silkies are actually thought of as rather a robust and resilient breed. They can survive in both cold and warm areas thanks to the insulation provided by their attractive plumage. But keep in mind that silkies' feathers are more like fur and not waterproof like those of other chicken breeds, so if you live in a more tropical area, they will need a lot of cover and protection. Due to their diminutive size and inability to fly, they can tolerate confinement well. However, if given the chance, they can make excellent use of large spaces and are outstanding foragers, able to identify delectable morsels from a distance.

What Makes Us Admire Them?

We truly enjoy silkies, and I think it's quite clear by now that we think they should be a part of every backyard flock! Here are the top five reasons we are so smitten with amazing silkies, however, and why you ought to order some right away, if we must put it in writing.

Even though we don't tend to judge a book by its cover, the silkie's fluffy plumage is impossible to overlook. The silkie is definitely easier on the eyes because it is more beautiful-looking than your typical cat or dog.

 

Not your typical red hen, these chickens have five toes, feathered legs, beards, and black, blue, and white skin and appendages.

 

They will also cherish you! Silkies love people.

They routinely give you a ton of adorable tiny eggs. Although they might not be as big as your ISA Brown's eggs, they are nonetheless just as tasty (and nourishing)—eggs-ellent for tiny lips!

It's challenging not to fall in love with silkies because of their personality, which is as sweet as sugar! You could be excused for assuming that these little darlings are high-maintenance birds considering their appearance, yet they are everything but. They make wonderful pets since they are very docile, quiet, and easy to take care of. They are also friendly and gentle.