The Silkie hen has been referred to as fluff-balls, extraterrestrial beings from some other global, teddy bears, and plenty of different issues in between.
For sure, they surely are unusual-looking chickens!
Their peculiar look, friendliness, and mothering talents are undoubtedly what endears them to many people.
Lately we’re going to uncover the historical past in the back of this strange breed of hen.
We will be able to talk about its egg-laying functions and temperament prior to figuring out a real Silkie hen and checking if this can be a just right are compatible to your flock.
Our Selection for All-In-One Automated Hen Coop Door
Run Hen
- Works Rain or Shine so that you don’t must allow them to out in inclement climate.
- Cross forward and get the ones additional hours of sleep or pass on holiday, our door has you coated.
- Offer protection to your Chickens from Predators with our self-locking characteristic
Our Selection For Perfect Hen Treats
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Black, Blue, Buff, Partridge, Self-blue, Splash, White, Grey |
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Huge chicken: 3lb (Feminine) 4lb (Male); Bantam: 1.2lb (Male) 1.1lb (Feminine) |
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Chicks: $10-$15 Hens/Roosters: $20-$50 |
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Relatively; However would possibly want supplemental warmth |
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What Silkie Chickens Glance Like
Silkies are maximum surely other in some ways from a ‘common’ hen look!
The top will have to be crested, searching fairly like a ‘pom-pom’ (very similar to a polish hen). If a comb is provide, it will have to seem like a ‘walnut,’ being nearly round in look.
The brush coloring will have to be black or darkish mulberry – another colour, and it isn’t a natural Silkie hen.
They have got oval-shaped turquoise blue earlobes and dark-colored wattles.
Their beak is brief, somewhat wide on the base, and it will have to be gray/blue in colour. Eyes are black.
Their our bodies will have to be wide and stout, the again is brief, and the breast is complete.
They have got 5 ft as a substitute of the standard 4 present in chickens. The outer two ft will have to be feathered.
The legs are brief and wide-set, gray in colour.
Their feathers lack barbicels (the ones are the hooks that hang the feathers in combination), therefore the fluffy look.
The primary feathering appears to be like similar to the under-down of standard chickens.
The truth that the feathers don’t hang in combination approach a Silkie hen can not fly.
It additionally signifies that the feathering isn’t waterproofed, and so a rainy Silkie hen is a pathetic sight to peer.
In the event that they do get considerably rainy, they wish to be towel-dried and even blow-dried – which they revel in whether it is finished continuously.
Beneath all that fluff, the Silkie has black pores and skin and bones. Unfortunately, this makes them a meals delicacy in portions of the A long way East.
The beef may be utilized in Chinese language medication because it incorporates two times as a lot carnitine as different hen meat – carnitine has anti-aging houses (so it’s mentioned).
Silkie Chickens: What You Wish to Know
Silkie chickens, thankfully, do not have a large number of hands-on consideration and care.
Those birds similar to maximum grownup chickens just do effective in wintry weather climates and don’t call for so much if you’re on the lookout for much less paintings for your finish.
Egg Laying and Temperament
Silkies are deficient performers within the egg-laying division.
In the event you get 120 eggs in a 12 months, you’re doing smartly. This equates to about 3 eggs every week.
The eggs are cream to tinted in colour and are small to medium in measurement.
They begin laying previous within the 12 months than maximum hens, beginning up as soon as the times start to get longer – now and again overdue December however extra frequently early January.
Their temperament and silkies are identified to be calm, pleasant, and docile – even the lads.
It’s been recorded through a number of those that the roosters will ‘tidbit for the chicks!
This docility can result in them being picked on through different extra ‘pushy’ flock contributors.
They do highest when put with others of a an identical nature, such because the Polish chicken.
Regardless of their fluffy feathering, they tolerate the chilly reasonably smartly – wetness is one thing they can not tolerate.
In case your local weather is freezing within the wintry weather, they’re going to get pleasure from a little supplemental warmth.
They’re content material to be confined, but when allowed to, free-range are nice little foragers.
The realm they forage will have to be a ‘protected zone’ since they can not fly to flee predators.
Silkies are extra famend as being pets, brooders, and ‘decorative’ birds.
The Silkie hen is notoriously tricky to intercourse till round six months previous. A breeder can surely come up with their highest wager in intercourse, nevertheless it’s now not sure till the chicken crows (or now not)!
Are Silkies Noisy?
Silkies are in truth now not noisy chickens in any respect. This is sensible making an allowance for their calm disposition.
This makes this breed nice should you are living in an rental and are allowed to have chickens.
As lengthy they have got some area they may be able to be a super addition for your way of life. You gained’t have to fret about your neighbor complaining about hen squawking.
Silkie Hen Care (And What to Watch Out For)
Well being Problems
Sadly, silkies can also be somewhat prone to Marek’s illness.
Many silkie hen breeders have bred their inventory for herbal immunity, however after all, you’ll be able to get your birds vaccinated.
With Silkies being very fluffy, they may be able to be a goal for mites and lice, so you will have to pay due diligence to those little fluffballs. You may additionally wish to trim the feathers across the eyes to assist them see a little bit higher.
On occasion, the fluff on the rear finish does want trimming for hygiene and breeding functions.
Rather than this, the Silkie hen is somewhat powerful and can generally are living for 7-9 years, longer with a variety of TLC!
If A Silkie Will get Rainy
Drying your Silkie hen temporarily can also be the adaptation between existence and demise to your fluffy hen.
Since the feathers don’t stick in combination in this “hairy” breed, they aren’t insulated, and different breeds of chickens. This implies they may be able to catch a kick back simply and die of hypothermia, particularly in the event that they are living in chilly climates.
Tid-bitting is when a chicken reveals a delectable deal with and calls his hens over to permit them an excessive amount of on it first. He generally clucks to them, choices up the morsel, and drops it so the ladies can see it.
Silkies were identified to try this for chicks as smartly.
Whilst maximum roosters on this breed are pleasant, there also are territorial and competitive territories to strangers. However as with any breeds, temperament can range from hen to hen.
Execs and Cons of Proudly owning a Silkie
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Background
There’s no doubt that the Silkie hen is an historical breed, most certainly of Chinese language beginning.
Some consider that the Silkie hen dates again so far as the Chinese language Han Dynasty, in 206BC.
The Chinese language title for the Silkie hen is wu-gu-Ji – which means black-boned.
Another title for this chicken is the Chinese language Silk Hen. The proof issues to a Chinese language beginning somewhat strongly, nevertheless it can’t be mentioned utterly.
It was once first discussed through Marco Polo (round 1290-1300) on his exceptional adventure throughout Europe and the A long way East. Even if he didn’t see the chicken, it was once reported to him through a fellow traveler, and he reported it in his magazine as “a hairy hen.”
The Silkie hen made its means westward both through the Silk Street or through the maritime routes, most probably each.
The traditional Silk Street stretched from China to modern day Iraq. A lot of secondary routes crossed over into Europe and the Balkan states.
The following point out we now have is from Italy, the place Aldrovandi, in 1598, speaks of a hen with “fur like a black cat.”
When other people first offered the Silkie hen to the Eu public, it was once mentioned to be the offspring of a hen and a rabbit – a now not so improbable factor again within the 1800s!
Many unscrupulous dealers offered Silkies to gullible people for interest, and it was once used as a ‘freak display’ merchandise in touring sideshows and exhibited as a ‘chicken mammal.
Breed Usual
Mavens authorized the Silkie hen into the British Poultry Usual of Perfection in 1865 and the American Poultry Affiliation same old in 1874.
The Australian Poultry Usual authorized Silkies in 1998 (bantams best).
Apparently, all Silkies in the USA and Canada are thought to be to be bantam without reference to measurement. Each and every different nation on the earth acknowledges each bantam and massive chicken sorts.
In the United Kingdom, huge chicken Silkies will have to weigh round 4lb (64oz) for the male and 3lb (48oz) for the women, and bantams will have to weigh round 600g (21oz) for men and 500g (18oz) for women.
Authorised colours are blue, black, white, gray, buff, splash, and partridge. A number of different colours are to be had, comparable to lavender, cuckoo, and pink, however they don’t seem to be but authorized within the APA.
Silkie Hen Footage
Is the Silkie Proper For You?
A Silkie hen is without equal in youngsters’ chickens. They’re cuddly, fluffy, and tolerant, love sitting for your lap, or even revel in cuddles.
They’re very pleasant, calm, and docile birds and have interaction really well with other people – they’re going to apply you round and ‘communicate’ to you.
This docility can result in them being picked on through extra competitive flock contributors, so attempt to stay a watch open for bullying.
Silkies are notoriously broody – the status funny story is {that a} Silkie can hatch a rock! In addition they make nice moms.
Many people stay Silkies to hatch out different eggs. A Silkie hen in ‘broody mode’ will generally settle for any eggs (together with duck) positioned below her.
In the event you are living in an rental and need to have chickens as pets, the Silkies are a great are compatible since they’re lovely quiet too.
Then again, should you are living in a space this is susceptible to be rainy and muddy, remember that the ones prerequisites don’t in point of fact trust Silkies as a result of their feathering, however should you completely should have them, it is very important stay them blank and dry.
Usually Requested Questions About Silkie Chickens
How Chilly Can Silkies Maintain?
Silkies are rather chilly hardy birds and tolerate low temperatures smartly. So long as you give those chickens a roof over their head, they’re going to continue to exist in temperatures with regards to 0 levels Fahrenheit.
Do Silkie Chickens Lay Eggs to Consume?
Sure, a silkie hen is regarded as a yard hen, they usually lay white/cream-colored eggs which are fit for human consumption.
Are All Silkies Bantams?
In some international locations, like america, Silkies are known best as bantams. Then again, in sure areas, breeders bred them as much as huge chicken.
How Incessantly Do Silkies Lay Eggs?
A silkie hen can lay about 120 eggs in keeping with 12 months, about 2-4 eggs every week.
Are Silkie Chickens Pricey?
The cost of a silkie can range. Best-quality silkie chicks can value round $10-$15, and hens can value between $20-$50.
Do Silkie Chickens Odor?
Like several pets, chickens have a definite scent. Whilst you don’t shower your animal or pets, they begin to scent dangerous.
So long as you stay them and their quarters blank those chickens will have to now not scent other than they in most cases scent.
Silkie Chickens: Abstract
The Silkie hen all the time brings a grin to peoples’ faces. This ‘odd-ball and the reasonably strange chicken is surely a crowd pleaser!
Even if they gained’t stay you in eggs, they’re going to provide you’ll a large number of love, smiles, and cuddles. Once they grow to be bonded to their house owners, they may be able to be described as ‘dog-like of their devotion.
They are going to apply you, communicate to you, take a look at what you’re doing, and ‘assist’ too!
They’re surely a super chicken to have round you probably have eggs you need to hatch however don’t need to mess around round with an incubator.
Learn how you can hatch eggs with a broody chicken for extra on that.
All in all, those humorous little birds are a pleasure to have and provides a lot excitement to their house owners.
Our Selection for All-In-One Automated Hen Coop Door
Run Hen
- Works Rain or Shine so that you don’t must allow them to out in inclement climate.
- Cross forward and get the ones additional hours of sleep or pass on holiday, our door has you coated.
- Offer protection to your Chickens from Predators with our self-locking characteristic
Our Selection For Perfect Hen Treats
You probably have Silkies, we would really like to listen to from you. Go away your feedback within the phase underneath…
Learn Subsequent: Bringing Chickens House For The First Time
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