Silkie chickens are known for their fluffy, cotton-like plumage and docile natures. But another unique trait of Silkies is the color of their eggs. Unlike most chickens that lay brown or white eggs, Silkies can produce eggs in many different hues. So what colors can you expect from Silkie eggs? Let’s take a closer look.
Typical Silkie Egg Colors
The most common Silkie egg colors are
-
Cream – Ranging from off-white to light beige. This is the most frequently seen Silkie egg color.
-
White – Pure bright white shells. Not as common as cream, but still a typical Silkie egg shade.
-
Light Brown – Milk chocolate or taupe colored shells.
-
Pink – Very light pastel pink shells. Quite rare and seen in only a small percentage of Silkies.
So while white and brown eggs are standard for most chicken breeds, Silkies have more variety when it comes to egg color Their genetics allow for a broader spectrum of egg shell hues
What Causes Different Egg Colors?
The main factor that determines egg color is the breed and genetics of the hen. But there are some other elements that can affect shell color too:
-
Diet – What a hen eats can slightly alter egg color over time. Diets rich in carotenoids from plants like marigolds or red peppers can produce darker yolks and deeper shell colors over time.
-
Stress Levels – Stress can cause a hen’s eggshells to fade and become paler. A relaxed, happy hen usually lays more vibrantly colored eggs.
-
Age – As hens grow older, their egg color often lightens gradually. Younger hens tend to lay eggs with more saturated, deeper shell hues.
So while diet and environment play a small role, genetics are the main determinant of Silkie egg color.
Why Do Silkies Lay Colored Eggs?
The reason Silkies lay such a variety of egg colors comes down to their genetics. All chicken eggs start out with white shells. Pigments called biliverdins are deposited onto the eggs as they develop in the shell gland. Different biliverdin variations result in different egg colors.
Silkies have genetics that allow for more biliverdin shades than other chicken breeds. While this is not completely understood, it seems to be linked to their Asian origins and ancient chicken breeds that Silkies are descended from.
This expanded biliverdin palette is what gives Silkies the ability to produce eggs in shades of white, cream, brown, and occasionally pink. No other breed has such egg color diversity!
How To Get Darker Egg Colors
While you can’t change a hen’s basic genetics, there are some tips to help your Silkies lay richer, more vibrant egg colors:
-
Feed a varied diet – Give them lots of fresh greens, produce scraps, and even occasional treats like paprika, red bell peppers, or marigold petals.
-
Reduce stress – Make sure they have a predator-safe coop, ample space, and flockmates. Stress and anxiety can cause pale egg shells.
-
Give oyster shell supplements – This provides extra calcium for strong, well-pigmented shells.
-
Let eggs sit for a day or two before collecting – The shells continue to develop pigment even after being laid.
Following these tips can help bring out your Silkie’s best and most vibrant egg hues, but their genetics are still the determining factor.
Do Eggs Taste Different?
While Silkie egg shells come in an array of colors, the interior quality and taste remains the same. Egg color does not affect the flavor, nutrition, cooking properties, or quality of the inside. You can rest easy knowing that your rainbow basket of Silkie eggs will all taste delicious!
Other Chicken Breeds That Lay Colored Eggs
If you love colorful eggs, Silkies aren’t the only option. Here are some other breeds known for multi-hued egg shells:
-
Easter Eggers – Lay blue, green, pink, and brown eggs. A mixed breed.
-
Ameraucanas – Lay blue or green eggs.
-
Cream Legbars – Lay sky blue eggs.
-
Marans – Lay deep chocolate brown eggs.
-
Welsummers – Lay reddish brown eggs.
So while Silkies have the most color diversity, those other breeds are also great choices if you want some egg bowl variety!
Can You Predict Egg Colors?
With most chicken breeds, you know what color eggs to expect. But with the most diverse options, Silkies can be more of a surprise. Is there any way to predict what color your Silkie will lay as an adult?
Unfortunately there is no guaranteed way to know in advance. However, there are some clues you can look for:
-
Look at parents/lineage – Silkies that come from predominantly light colored breeding lines are more likely to lay cream or white themselves. Darker brown lineages often produce brown eggs.
-
Ear lobe color – Silkies with light colored ear lobes tend to lay lighter eggs than those with dark blue-black ear lobes.
-
Feather color – While not foolproof, white and light colored Silkies usually lay lighter eggs than those with darker plumage.
There are always exceptions, but those clues can often provide hints about what egg color you may get. The only sure way is to wait and see!
Can You Breed for Specific Egg Colors?
If you’re planning to breed Silkies and want to try to produce certain egg colors, it is possible with careful selection. The basics include:
-
Select your best laying hens with the desired egg color.
-
Choose a rooster from bloodlines known for those shell hues.
-
Each generation, keep breeding from those that exhibit the color you want.
-
Cull non-conforming eggs colors from the breeding pool.
It may take a few generations, but breeding two birds with similar egg colors will eventually produce more consistent results in their offspring. With diligence, you can develop your own flock known for specific beautiful egg tones.
The Appeal of Silkie Eggs
For backyard chicken keepers, opening the coop to find a rainbow of different colored eggs is an amazing experience. Silkies are the only breed offering such delightful variety. Their eggs are beautiful little works of art – an edible palette of nature’s colors!
Beyond being beautiful, Silkies are also sweet pets, docile flock members, and dedicated broodies. Their fluffy feathers and friendly nature have made them one of the most popular ornamental breeds.
So if you’d love to be surprised by a rainbow of eggs every morning, Silkies just may be the perfect chickens for you. Once you’ve experienced their charming personalities and colorfully creative eggs, Silkies may just become your new favorite breed!
What size eggs do Silkie hens lay?
Just as there are many different chicken breeds, there are many different sizes of eggs. Egg sizes can range from 1.25 oz to 2.5 oz (35g – 70g) per egg. Commercially, an extra-large egg is any egg larger than 2 oz (59g) and jumbo anything above 2.2 oz (66g). However, some breeds – especially those bred as layers – lay consistently large eggs for you to enjoy.
Silkies lay extra small to small eggs. According to the UK standards, a small egg is an egg that weighs less than 53g. In the US a small egg will weigh 42.5g or less and a peewee or extra small egg will clock in at less than 35.4g.
Has your Silkie ever laid a record-size egg for the breed? Let us know in the comments! We’re always delighted to hear your backyard flock stories!
Background Information on the Silkie Breed
Silkies are a ubiquitous breed and there is no doubt about it that it is a very old breed that was first discovered in China.
The first documented account we have of a Silkie chicken is Marco Polo who encountered what he termed a “furry chicken” on his famous and fateful thirteenth-century travels.
Silkies are mentioned a second time by Ulisse Aldrovandi, a celebrated Italian writer, in his treatise on chickens where he talked about the Silkie has a “chicken with hair like a black cat”.
We cannot be one hundred percent sure where Silkies first scratched around, but we know that they have a long and complex history dotted across the Asian landscape, and that they were traded on the Silk Road which is most probably where the Silkie name came from.
Although early travelers like Marco Polo and Aldrovandi made mention of the unusual quality of the Silkie chicken’s plumage, there were many myths that surrounded the unique feathering once these little chickens made their way to Europe. Stories abounded that the Silkie chicken was the result of crossing a chicken and a rabbit and Silkies were even included in sideshows and labelled bird-mammals. Even though we can definitely see the likeness between the satin-like coat of a rabbit and the fluffy feathers of a Silkie – we can say with absolute certainty that these little chooks are not mammals in the slightest, just a very unique chicken.
Now that we know where they come from, let’s take a quick glance at the facts.
So, now that we’ve done a little background research into the truly special Silkie chook, we’ve rounded up the fast facts for you so that you can have all the important info available at a quick glance.
Silky Chicken – What You Need To Know – 101
FAQ
What color eggs do Silkies lay?
Silkie chickens primarily lay cream or white-colored eggs. While the most common colors are white and cream, some Silkies may also lay eggs with a light tan or even a slightly pinkish tint, according to some chicken experts.
Can you eat Silkie chicken eggs?
silky eggs are delicious, just not white shelled. That COULD put off some people… Silkie eggs are fine to eat, unless the birds have been recently medicated, then you need to let that pass through their system first.
Can Silkie eggs be blue?
Do you love silkies but also love colorful eggs? Now you can have both! Hatching eggs now available from our colored egg laying silkies. Yes- silkies that lay blue, light and dark green eggs!
What is the rarest Silkie color?
The rarest Silkie chicken color is generally considered to be lavender. This color is caused by a recessive gene, making it difficult to breed true and maintain a consistent lavender appearance.