The Silkie chicken is one of the most unique and popular chicken breeds available today. Known for their adorable fluffy appearance friendly personalities, and mothering skills, Silkies have captured the hearts of many backyard chicken keepers. In this complete guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about this one-of-a-kind breed.
Overview of Silkie Chickens
Silkies are small chickens that typically weigh between 1-3 pounds. They have soft fluffy plumage that feels like silk or satin. Underneath all that fluff Silkies have black skin, black bones, and dark blue/black flesh. Their feathers lack functioning barbicels, which are the hooks that hold a normal chicken’s feathers together. This gives Silkies their distinctively fluffy look since their feathers do not cling together.
One of the most distinguishing features of Silkies are their feathers. Their plumage has been described as fur-like. The feathers do not have barbicels, so they look and feel very soft and fluffy. This also means Silkies cannot fly well since their feathers do not hold together like a typical chicken’s.
Silkies also have several other unusual features:
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They have 5 toes instead of the usual 4 found on chickens. The outer two toes are feathered.
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Their skin is black, as are their bones. This makes them a delicacy in some Asian cultures.
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They have dark blue flesh.
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Silkies have walnut-shaped combs, dark mulberry in color.
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Their earlobes are turquoise blue.
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Silkies have dark eyes and a bluish-black beak.
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The legs are short, wide set, and grayish.
Silkie Chicken Colors
Silkies come in a variety of color patterns, though white and black are the most common. The American Poultry Association recognizes 7 color varieties:
- Black
- Blue
- White
- Splash
- Partridge
- Buff
- Gray
Other colors like cuckoo, lavender, and red exist but are not officially recognized yet.
Temperament of Silkies
One of the top reasons Silkies are so popular is their calm, friendly temperament. They tend to be very docile and enjoy human interaction. Many owners describe them as being “lap chickens” since they love to sit on your lap. Their fluffy feathers and adorable appearance just add to their appeal.
Silkies are not known to be noisy chickens and don’t mind being confined. They are content to live in backyard enclosures as long as their basic needs are met. Male Silkies are also less aggressive than roosters of other breeds.
If allowed to free range, Silkies are excellent foragers. However, care should be taken since they cannot fly or move very quickly. Overall, Silkies do well when mixed with other gentle chicken breeds. More assertive chickens may pick on Silkies, so proper introduction is recommended.
Egg Laying Ability
While they make wonderful pets, Silkies are poor egg layers. On average, a Silkie hen will lay 100-120 small cream-colored eggs each year. This works out to about 2-3 eggs each week when the hen is actively laying.
The eggs are relatively small and cream-colored. Silkies tend to start laying a bit later than most chicken breeds, usually around 7-9 months old. And they are notorious for going broody – meaning they eagerly sit on a nest of eggs trying to hatch them. All this adds up to Silkies producing many fewer eggs each year than great laying breeds like Leghorns.
Those wanting a steady supply of eggs should look at other breeds. But those wanting a friendly pet chicken will be quite happy with a Silkie.
Broodiness & Mothering Ability
If there’s one thing Silkies are known for, it’s their broodiness. They have incredibly strong maternal instincts and readily go broody – the urge to sit on a nest of eggs until they hatch. It’s not uncommon for a Silkie hen to spend a large portion of the year broody.
Silkies are widely considered to be the most broody chicken breed. Their strong mothering instinct persists even when they aren’t broody. Silkies will often “share” incubating duties and hatch eggs from other birds. They are one of the best breeds to use as surrogate mothers.
It’s very common for chicken keepers to put eggs from ducks, turkeys, or other birds under a broody Silkie hen. She will diligently incubate them as if they were her own. Silkies make excellent mothers and will care for chicks of any breed.
If you don’t want a broody hen, however, Silkies may not be the right breed for you. It can take effort to break their broodiness. But if you want a chicken that goes broody dependably, the Silkie is an outstanding choice.
Origins of Silkie Chickens
The exact origins of Silkies are uncertain, but they most likely originated in Asia over 2,000 years ago. The earliest known reference dates back to Marco Polo’s travels around 1300 AD. He described a “furry chicken” in his writings, thought to be the Silkie.
They were first introduced to Europe in the 1800s. Unscrupulous sellers promoted them as having miraculous powers or being a cross between a rabbit and chicken. This led to their inclusion in many freak shows and carnivals.
Silkies became officially recognized as a breed in the 1800s. The American Poultry Association added them to the Standard of Perfection in 1874. Today, they are a very popular ornamental breed kept for exhibition and as pets.
Caring for Silkie Chickens
Housing
Silkies are considered a bantam breed in the U.S., but can vary in size. A standard 2×4 ft coop will house 2-4 silkies comfortably. The coop should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before introducing new chickens.
Since they can’t fly well, roosting bars should be provided at a lower height than for normal chickens, about 12-18 inches off the floor. Providing a ramp can make it easier for them to access the coop and roosts. Silkies do well in confinement or free ranging in a safe, enclosed space.
Temperature Tolerance
Silkies will thrive year-round in most climates. Their fluffy down helps retain heat in the winter. However, their feathers also lack the water resistance of a typical chicken, so wetness can be an issue. Provide a dry shelter for winter with deep litter for nesting. Supplemental heat isn’t normally required if they have a coop to huddle in.
In summer, Silkies can be prone to heat stress. Ensure they always have access to shade and cool water. Temperatures above 85°F may cause them distress.
Feeding Silkies
Silkies can be fed standard layer feed appropriate for their age. They enjoy foraging and will thrive on supplemented feed. Typical daily portions for adult Silkies are 1/4 cup feed per bird, adjusted as needed to maintain a lean body condition.
Provide fresh, clean water at all times in tipped waterers to prevent wetting their feathers. Scatter scratch grains or treats in their run to encourage natural foraging. Offer greens, vegetable scraps, and fruit periodically for variety.
Grooming & Health Care
Silkies require occasional grooming to keep their feathers clean and tidy. Check for small mites around the vent feathers. Prevent wet feathers and vent pasting with proper hygiene. Trim feathers around the eyes if obstructed.
Provide species-appropriate prevention for internal/external parasites and diseases. Isolate any sick birds immediately and consult an avian vet. With attentive care, Silkies are generally quite hardy and can live 7 years or longer.
Benefits of Keeping Silkies
Keeping Silkies offers several benefits:
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They are extremely friendly and docile, even the roosters. This makes them a great breed for children.
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Their fluffy, unique appearance and fun antics provide hours of enjoyment for families.
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Silkies are the ultimate breed for anyone wanting a broody hen to hatch eggs.
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They are generally quite healthy and easy to care for with proper housing and feeding.
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Silkies lay small cream-colored eggs that some find quite tasty, though they don’t produce eggs in abundance.
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Their calm nature lets them mix well with other breeds and farm animals when properly introduced.
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Silkies are small enough to keep comfortably in urban and suburban backyards.
FAQs about Silkie Chickens
How well do Silkies handle cold weather?
Their fluffy feathering provides insulation against cold. Silkies are reasonably cold hardy down to around freezing (around 0° F). Ensure they have a dry, draft-free coop and flock mates to huddle with.
Are Silkie eggs good to eat?
Yes, Silkies lay small creamy white eggs that are perfectly edible with a slight tint to the shells. The taste is comparable to eggs from other breeds.
What is the temperament of Silkies like?
Silkies are known for their calm, friendly demeanor. They are one of the most docile chicken breeds and very child-friendly. Even the roosters seldom show aggression.
How broody are Silkie hens?
Silkies are extremely broody! They have very strong maternal instincts and will readily go broody and incubate a clutch of eggs for weeks. Their persistence at hatching eggs is virtually unmatched in the chicken world.
How many eggs do Silkies lay per year?
On average, a Silkie will lay 100-120 small light brown eggs annually. This compares to 200+ eggs for good laying breeds like Leghorns and Australorps.
Conclusion
Considerations Before Adopting Silkies
There are also some potential challenges that come with raising Silkie chickens. Before you add this breed to your flock, consider how you might handle the following issues.
Vulnerability– Silkies are more vulnerable to predators due to their limited vision and poor flying ability. The crest of feathers on a Silkie’s head will often grow out and become so fluffy that it can inhibit proper vision, so you may need to trim the area around their eyes to make a clearer sight path. They also need adequate ground shelter since they cannot easily fly away from danger.
Sexing– Silkies are very difficult to sex. When buying Silkie chicks, you often don’t have the choice of buying just pullets since they are commonly sold as straight-run chicks. This means you could end up with both roosters and hens without any easy way to tell them apart. It is easier to sex Silkie chickens once they have matured and you can more easily distinguish the roosters apart from the hens. Obviously, the most accurate way to sex Silkie chickens is to wait until he crows or she lays an egg!
Low Production– Silkies are not the best egg producers compared to other chicken breeds. A Silkie hen will only lay around 100-120 eggs a year and her desire to go broody can also interrupt her laying.
Fair Weather– Silkie chickens don’t thrive in wet, cold, or muddy environments. The feathers on their feet can get matted with mud or moisture, which can freeze during cold weather and lead to frostbite. Plus, their fur-like feathers do not shed water like regular feathers, so it is important that they stay dry. They also struggle in areas with extreme heat. Since their feathers do not have a rigid feather web, they are not as effective in insulating the Silkie against hot or cold weather.
Unique Traits of Silkies
Silkie chickens are distinguishable from other breeds by their unique appearance, most notably from their feathers. Silkie feathers lack rigidity which gives them a fluffy appearance and a softer texture. In contrast, normal chicken feathers have barbicels that make them stiff, more protective, and easier to shed water.
Another unique feature of the Silkie chicken is its skin color. Silkies have bluish-black skin, bones, and meat. The dark-colored skin is a result of the melanotic gene. Their facial features are also dark-colored as opposed to the red-colored facial features of other chicken breeds. In fact, if you find Silkie chickens with red facial features, it may be a sign that they were poorly bred or outcrossed with another chicken breed. Silkies also have turquoise-colored earlobes. But, contrary to the common belief that a chicken’s earlobes indicate what color eggs it will lay, Silkies lay creamy, brown-colored eggs.
Silkie chickens have a walnut comb that is small and often hidden by the crest of feathers on the top of their head. They can also come in bearded or non-bearded varieties. A bearded Silkie will have fluffy feathers below its beak that often hide its wattles and make the Silkie look like it has a ‘beard’.
Lastly, Silkie chickens have an ‘extra’ toe. Most chickens have four toes, with three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward. Silkies have a fifth toe attached to the rear back-facing toe on each foot, which is a genetic feature from breeding for the polydactyly gene.
There are a few key features of the Silkie chicken that have made them a popular backyard chicken breed. Here are some practical reasons why many flock owners decide to add Silkie chickens to their backyard:
Temperament– Silkie chickens have a very laid-back temperament that makes them docile, friendly, and sometimes affectionate. Silkies may even imprint on their human caregivers, following them around and chattering to them. Their calm demeanor allows them to adapt to confinement well, and they don’t mind living indoors.
Social Behavior– Silkie chickens do not have a dominant or assertive personality, which means they are often at the bottom of the pecking order in a flock of mixed chicken breeds. Silkies tend to do well in a flock of just Silkie chickens or in a mixed flock of other friendly, docile chicken breeds. They do make excellent pet chickens and can even thrive in a solitary setting if their caretakers give them enough attention. Silkie chickens are often ‘diaper trained’ and taught to walk on a chicken harness and leash. This makes them excellent therapy chickens that are safe to bring in nursing homes or schools for teaching purposes.
Manageable Size– Another feature that makes Silkie chickens so popular is their small size. The original Silkie chicken was bred to be standard size, but this variety is more common in the UK. In the United States, Silkies were bred for a smaller size and are now more bantam size. Here are the average breed standard weights for both bantam and standard-size Silkies:
- Bantam– Cock: 36 oz. Hen: 32 oz.
- Standard– Cock: 4 lbs. Hen: 3 lbs.
Their size makes them more suitable for small backyards or even indoor situations. Silkies don’t need as big of a coop as standard-size chickens do, and they also eat less as a result.