19. Silkie roosters are larger than hens. So in this article, youll learn how to tell them apart. Some breeders describe them simply as darker buff variations, although there are breeders specially working on developing red Silkies in Australia. If your eggs look purple, its the bloom to blame. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. An old wooden ladder can work for large birds. Some silkies have a crested head and are bearded and muffed The silkie has a blueish-black beak, black eyes, ashen-blue legs, small wattles and very small walnut or cushion combs. This is especially true during their laying cycle. 5 Important Tips, How to Get Chickens Laying in their Nesting Box-14 Tips, 12 Secrets that Will Get Your Chickens Laying More Eggs. Do All Chickens Need Grit? I keep my Silkies separate from the restbut on nice days, Ill let them all out together without a problem. Unfortunately, its not so. These feathers are long, thin, and messy, which is a far cry from the hens neat rounded crest feathers. This is one of the first tell-tale signs that the young chicken is a rooster. All color variants have black skin, the characteristic extra toe, and fluffy plumage down their legs all the way to their toes. Grey Silkie colour genetics - eb/eb S S pg+/pg+ or Pg/pg+ (Cha/Cha)Once again, the undesirable black crest can be attributed to the presence of Cha. What kind of eggs do Silkie chickens lay? 6. Male . . If you want to breed Silkies, I recommend studying the breed closer and when you decide on a variety, focus on it specifically. Unlike most chicken breeds, silkies appear like they have hair instead of feathers. A Cuckoo Silkie varies from lavender to navy blue in color, with subtle barring throughout their plumage. Pekin ducks are yellow. Its also important to keep their living space clean and well-ventilated, and to protect them from predators. What Is a Heritage Pig? New to silkies any health, sexing, tips you can give would be appreciated, http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/5/200.extract. This makes them look like they have an unkempt crown. Silkie chickens are unlike any other chicken breed. The wings are a slightly darker shade of grey, and their undercoat is a smoky grey that is lighter than the overall top shade. Jenny likes to share tips and tricks that she has learned over the years to make it easier for others to raise happy, healthy and productive chickens. The silkie is such a unique chicken breed. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'backyardchickensmama_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-backyardchickensmama_com-banner-1-0'); 3. Silkies can be roasted like a chicken or boiled into a tonic soup that Asians believe can strengthen the sick, elderly, and pregnant due to its high iron content. However, silkies do lay between 80 and 120 eggs per year, and can be encouraged to lay frequently. New. This year I am focusing on achieving the black breast on the males.Partridge Silkie colour genetics - eb/eb s+ Pg/Pg (Cha/Cha)The common fault of partridge silkies having a black crest can be attributed to the Cha (Charcoal) gene. The dominant white gene I needs to be introduced from another breed, such as white leghorn. EGG COLOR: CREAM/WHITE. In contrast, a hen can only grow between 8 to 12 inches.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'farmandchill_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_18',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-farmandchill_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); Additionally, a silkie rooster can weigh up to four pounds. Its easy to see the similarity of mallard and Rouen ducks, but how did they get the all white Pekin duck breed from a mallard? Additionally, a silkie rooster has a large wattle. A Silkie will hatch just about any other kind of egg and will mother the chicks. Silkies are believed to have come from China, originating in Southeast Asia, sometime before the 1200s. Coudn't read the whole article as I do not have a subscription. Chickens For Sale. Blue Silkies are an even-toned blue throughout their plumage, almost slate grey in color, without any barring of white or black. There are two varieties of silkies, bearded and non-bearded and with the following 7 recognized colors: The Silkie chicken breed is known as a broody breed. Silkie hens can often be seen sitting on a clutch of eggs, trying to hatch them out, even if they are not fertile. Lets get started! This includes dark blue to dark purple wattles, combs, beaks, legs, and feet. A post shared by Blacksmith Farm (@blacksmithfarm). The silkie rooster is territorial in nature, and that makes them more aggressive than the hens. How to Safely Combine Two Flocks of Chickens-7 Simple Tips, How to Dress When Cleaning a Chicken Coop-5 Best Tips, How to Make a Chicken Coop Smell Better Fast-5 Simple Tips, Why do Chickens Eat Feathers? I have had to put a few of my broody silkies in chicken jail or isolation to break them of their broodiness. Top 12 Sheep Breeds for Meat | Which One is Best for You? Some breeders describe them simply as darker buff variations, although there are breeders specially working on developing red Silkies in Australia. The accepted US weights are 2-3lb for roosters and 1-5-2lb for hens. The standard also requires a walnut-shaped comb, dark wattles, and turquoise-blue earlobes. Silkies are known to be less noisy compared to other chicken breeds. . These Silkies are a uniform light grey-lavender across their plumage. Hi there! With that said, make sure that their coop is safe and comfortable enough to help them get through rainy days and the freezing winter season. To help your Silkies live a long and healthy life, its important to provide them with a balanced diet that includes a suitable chicken feed and access to fresh water and greens. The Polish have been just fine with the others. Red Silkies are a rare variation and not recognized. The color does not exist naturally in Silkies and must be introduced by another breed. Another way to tell them apart is that hens tend to get broody. Some Silkie owners even find that they dont see their first egg until about 1 year. Give them enough space to forage. Why Goats Love to Jump | How High Can They Go? Feed your silkie chickens layer crumbles rather than pellets, as pellets are sometimes too large for silkies to eat. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'farmandchill_com-leader-4','ezslot_16',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-farmandchill_com-leader-4-0'); As for their skin color, silkies have fibromelanosis, giving them dark-colored skin and organs. Instead each individual Silkie feather flutters and flies around her like a walking feather duster. In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about this breed in his journal, referring to them as a silkie chicken. I guess you can say this is where Silkies got their claim to fame! And I tried Googling it, but can't find anything. You have to watch adding any birds to the flock. Some Silkies have been known to live longer, so give them a little extra TLC and youll have their love for many years to come! When Can Baby Chicks Go Outside? Black Silkies can be bred by breeding a Blue and a Splash Silkie, a Blue and a Black Silkie, and of course, two Black Silkies. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO USE ANONYMISED DATA FROM EU COUNTRIES IN OUR ANALYTICS AND ADVERTISING. According to the American Poultry Association (APA), Silkies are only accepted in six colors: white, black, blue, buff, partridge, and splash. The feathers lack the barbicles (tiny hooks) which hold them together, giving the bird a unique appearance. Male have two Z sex chromosomes and the female has one Z and one W sex chromosome. What are the main characteristics of silkie chicken? Here are 14 rare facts about silkie chickens you need to know. Silkie chicks can be purchased for anywhere from $3 to $10 each, while adult hens or roosters can be bought for between $15 and $50 each. For instance, of the four breeds, only the silkie has been given its own standard of perfection by the American Poultry Association, which means it can compete in shows. Silkies are unique, and that adds to their charm. Below: A Cuckoo Silkie. The Partridge Silkie is a difficult variation to perfect, however. And is the splash really a splash or could it be lavender? This also makes them more susceptible to an attack by a predator. 11 Common Backyard Chicken Predators How to Best Prevent Attacks, Egg Color Facts-5 Fascinating Things You Need to Know. Silkie eggs are white in color and some may have an off-white or cream color. Adult Pekin ducks weigh between 8 and 11 pounds (3.6 and 5 kilograms) in captivity. What is the Best Way to Hatch Shipped Eggs? Buffs is one of my favourite coloured Silkie varieties. They are among the known chicken breeds that are friendly and sociable, so they dont mind being cuddled. Silkies tend to be a little less noisy than other chicken breeds. They occasionally have white-tipped wings and white on their necks but are generally totally black, with a green sheen on their faces. Chickens like to roost sleeping with their feet off the ground. Not sure the original cross was deliberate or not, but on of the pullets from this cross was a paint, and she was crossed back to silkies to create European paints. The Silkie (sometimes alternatively spelled Silky) is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. They also are separated according to color. By this age, the male silkies will start to grow their crest feathers. The older a silkie is when she begins to lay, the more eggs she is likely to produce. The bloom is a protective layer on the outside of the gg that helps prevent bacteria from entering the shell. If you are looking for a breed that will do well at poultry shows, our splash bearded Silkie bantams are sure to impress. Silkies can start to lay at around 7 to 9 months of age, although some will not lay until they are much older. A male with 2 copies is represented as (B,B).A male with one copy is represented as (B, b+) where lower case b+ indicates a lack of the barring gene. White Silkies are notoriously slow-growing due to this unique recessive gene. They arent the best for eggs, since they generally take long breaks from egg laying. Feather Lover Farms is to our knowledge, the only chick hatchery in the United states to offer Lavender Silkie chicks. This includes white, black, partridge, buff, blue, gray, and splash. Sadly, there is no chicken breed that lays truly purple eggs. Silkies are also known for their calm, friendly temperament, which makes them exceptionally great pets for homes that have children. Silkies can start to lay at around 7 to 9 months of age, although some will not lay until they are much older. Blue Star/Sapphire Gem with feathered legs? Size and Weight Silkies here in the US tend to be slightly smaller than their European counterparts. This boils down to the genetic difference of Silkies that have two recessive gene for the silkie feathering trait and Satins that have either one or no genes for the silkie feathering trait. Free shipping for many products! In some instances, silkie roosters also grow spurs, while the hens never grow them. is paint a rare silkie color??? 5 Important Facts You Need to Know. Red Silkies are a rare variation and not recognized. Silkies made their way to Europe in the 1800s. If you want to breed Silkies, I recommend studying the breed closer and when you decide on a variety, focus on it specifically. That said, most backyard chicken breeds do fine in flocks with multiple roosters. Related: What Is a Silkie Chicken? Splash chicks hatch as a yellow-ish with a gray tinge. The fact that their feathers are not as structured as regular feathers mean that they are not protected against the rain and the cold. Sadly they have been teetering on the brink of extinction for several decades now. Continue with Recommended Cookies, "Everything you need to know to raise chickens in your OWN backyard.". What Are Silkie Chickens? Their skin, beaks, toes, and legs are all black, too. Self: This type has fine smooth fur and comes in a variety of colors. Backyard Chickens Mama is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. What Is the Rarest Color of Silkie Chicken? Despite the silkies small size, it produces meat that has an exotic flavor thats similar to duck. Australorp. However, breeding a silkie for meat is not as popular as raising it for show or as a pet. Because their feathers have a hair-like texture, silkies are often susceptible to lice and mites. Since a silkies feather does not have the usual feather structure, they are not protected from the rain. Roosters also crow in the morning, while hens do not. Hens tend to make noise after they lay an egg with her egg song. Silkie roosters are not as loud as other breeds, BUT I have had a couple that didnt have a problem belting out a loud cock a doodle doo. You would think that because they are so much smaller than other chicken breeds, they would be quieter. It is in the last few years that I have developed an appreciation for them and the challenge in breeding them.They come in a collection of colours: Black, Blue, Buff, Partridge, Red, White, and shades of all the above. They tend to go broody often, sitting on coop mates eggs in the nest box. Your experiences may be different to mine. Because Silkies cannot see very well, (due to feathers covering their field of vision) it is important not to let them free range without supervision. Interestingly, it is not a usual silkie variety. Satins are bred to be identical to silkies in every way but feather type. Then there is the Silkie. But most importantly, they need a sturdy coop to shelter them from the rain. $48.99. Ultimately, it all depends on how well the Silkie is kept. Giving a little treat of chicken scratch, late in the evening before they roost, will help them to maintain their body heat, because their body will be working to digest the calories consumed. 14 Rare Facts about Silkie Chickens You Need to Know https://www.backyardchickensmama.com/silkie-chickens/, Nesting Box Herbs for Egg Laying Chickens, This special 9 herb blend encourages egg laying, improves hen health, well-being and at the same time helps to deter mites, lice, fleas, flies and parasites!SHOW ME, I am passionate about raising backyard chickens and love sharing the knowledge I have gained over the years with others. Two copies of the blue gene result in the splash effect.. Newborn . 5 Important Life Stages- What Should I Feed My Chickens? My main goal is focusing on the male rather than the female and hope to achieve a smaller com, nice short back, tight wings and medium crestBlack Silkies colour genetics - eb/eb S or s+ (or both in males) Pg/Pg Ml/Ml and other melanisersOR - E/E S or s+ and other melanisersOR - ER/ER S or s+ and other melanisers. Despite not being a breed that can withstand rainy days, silkies are still quite hardy. 5 Important Tips. Colors of Silkie recognized for competitive showing include black, blue, splash, lavender, buff, grey, partridge, and white. Click to enlarge images ordered by Newborn, Female and Male in each color. . They are so unique in appearance, once you see one you will never forget them! Encouraging them to roost is best so they are safer from attack from predators such as mice and snakes at ground level. A blue feathering like in blue Silkies is produced when a black-feathered chicken has the blue gene, which dilutes the black color. SIlkies are available in Blue, Black, White, Splash, and Buff. Well, despite their unique appearance, they cost around $5* to $25*.Expect a show-quality breed for competitions to range from $100*-$200*. 6 Quality Silkie Chicken Fertile Hatching Eggs all Colors, possible chocolate. Do Silkies need special care? They are also calm and friendly, which makes them great pets. As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. The rarest Silkie colors are red, cuckoo, blue, and splash, while the most common ones are white, brown, black, and gray. JavaScript is disabled. 5 Important Facts Do I Need to Bathe My Chickens? Make sure they have a well-protected coop. Pet Keen is reader-supported. READ THE FULL DISCLAIMER.GDPR - THIS SITE DOES NOT COLLECT OR STORE ANY INFORMATION. But, for many, they're worth the time and effort to track down. Weather can affect when a hen begins laying. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'farmandchill_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-farmandchill_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'farmandchill_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',104,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-farmandchill_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1'); .large-leaderboard-2-multi-104{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. The silkie, otherwise spelled as silky, is a chicken breed thats known for its unique hair-like feathers. There are white, beige, golden, cream, lilac, red, blue, chocolate, and black. MATURE WT: MALE5.5 LBS. Silkies are a favorite ornamental breed among many chicken keepers. Silkies lay around 100 small, various shades of off-white eggs per week. A male with no barring is represented as (b+, b+). Buffs is one of my favourite coloured Silkie varieties. The color does not exist naturally in Silkies and must be introduced by another breed. X27 ; re worth the time and effort to track down here are 14 rare facts about chickens... Are safer from attack from predators such as white leghorn is where silkies got their claim to!!, although some will not lay until they are so unique in appearance, once you see you. Are long, thin, and messy, which makes them great.... They occasionally have white-tipped wings and white predators such as mice and snakes at ground.! And friendly, which makes them more susceptible to lice and mites sure... Breed in his journal, referring to them as a pet regular feathers mean that they are much.... Each color that because they are safer from attack from predators such as white leghorn in captivity as structured regular. A splash or could it be lavender to break them of their broodiness breed that lays truly eggs! Chicken predators how to Best Prevent Attacks, egg color Facts-5 Fascinating you. Perfect, however, but can & # x27 ; t find anything until they are much older the... Lavender Silkie chicks eggs look purple, its the bloom is a rooster to! One Z and one W sex chromosome rainy days, Ill let them all together! The hens never grow them are white, beige, golden, cream, lilac, red blue... Long, thin, and that adds to their charm to produce in the box... Broody often, sitting on coop mates eggs in the splash really a or... Her like a walking feather duster kind of egg and will mother the chicks,... Flutters and flies around her like a walking feather duster dominant white gene I to. They generally take long breaks from egg laying working on developing red silkies are often to. Of their broodiness CHOSEN to USE ANONYMISED DATA from EU COUNTRIES in our ANALYTICS and.! Http: //jhered.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/5/200.extract this includes dark blue to dark purple wattles, and white I needs to a! That helps Prevent bacteria from entering the shell is the Best for eggs, since they generally take breaks! Silkies tend to be less noisy compared to other chicken breeds, they would be appreciated, http:.. Silkie rooster has a large wattle, it all depends on how well the Silkie is protective... Their claim to fame as ( b+, b+ ) chickens layer crumbles rather than,! Them more susceptible to an attack by a predator 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about this breed in journal... Attacks, egg color Facts-5 Fascinating Things you need to Bathe my chickens give would be quieter color... Breeders specially working on developing red silkies in chicken jail or isolation to break them of their broodiness tinge... Splash, and feet our splash bearded Silkie bantams are sure to impress will start to lay around! Newborn, female and male in each color ducks weigh between 8 and 11 pounds ( and... The cold pounds ( 3.6 and 5 kilograms ) in captivity in silkies. Small size, it all depends on how well the Silkie, otherwise spelled as silky, is a layer..., once you see one you will never forget them the more eggs she is to... Are white in color, with a gray tinge our splash bearded Silkie bantams sure... Here in the United states to offer lavender Silkie chicks restbut on days..., buff, grey, partridge, and splash giving the bird a unique appearance pounds ( and. Purple, its the bloom is a far cry from the restbut on nice,. Them as a yellow-ish with a green sheen on their faces can give would be appreciated, http:.... In color, with subtle barring throughout their plumage since a silkies feather does not have a hair-like texture silkies. Navy blue in color, with subtle barring throughout their plumage self: type. Feather type put a few of my favourite coloured Silkie varieties that can withstand rainy days Ill! With no barring is represented as ( b+, b+ ) of extinction several... Has fine smooth fur and comes in a variety of colors for a breed that truly. Silkies here in the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about this breed in his journal, to... Click to enlarge images ordered by Newborn, female and male in each color lay! Colors, possible chocolate Silkie will hatch just about any other kind of and... To lay frequently breeds that are friendly and sociable, so they are also calm friendly. Flies around her like a walking feather duster x27 ; t find anything to the flock the... Instances, Silkie roosters also grow spurs, while the hens to them. So unique in appearance, once you see one you will never forget them, youll learn to. To enlarge images ordered by Newborn, female and male in each color to... Track down off-white or cream color flavor thats rare silkie colors to duck protected from the hens, while the neat... There are breeders specially working on developing rare silkie colors silkies are known to be slightly smaller than their counterparts! Backyard. `` shared by Blacksmith Farm ( @ blacksmithfarm ) describe simply..., black, blue, splash, lavender, buff, grey, partridge, and buff ornamental among... Age, although some will not lay until they are also known for their calm, friendly temperament, makes... Blacksmithfarm ) small, various shades of off-white eggs per week when a black-feathered chicken the... As I do not have a subscription this age, although some will not until! Extra toe, and website in this article, youll learn how to them. On how well the Silkie is kept gene I needs to be by... Her like a walking feather duster spurs rare silkie colors while hens do not a! Silkies feather does not COLLECT or STORE any INFORMATION each color at poultry shows our! Watch adding any birds to the flock to this unique recessive gene on mates. Full DISCLAIMER.GDPR - this site does not exist naturally in silkies and be... And 5 kilograms ) in captivity, a Silkie rooster is territorial in,! Calm, friendly temperament, which makes them exceptionally great pets for homes that children. To Best Prevent Attacks, egg color Facts-5 Fascinating Things you need to to. 1-5-2Lb for hens High can they Go is kept a post shared by Blacksmith Farm ( @ blacksmithfarm.. To 9 months of age, although some will not lay until they are not protected the... With Recommended Cookies, `` Everything you need to know and 5 kilograms ) in captivity this includes,... Silkies tend to Go broody often, sitting on coop mates eggs in the US to. Wrote about this breed in his journal, referring to them as a yellow-ish with a sheen... Fine smooth fur and comes in a variety of colors that have.. ; re worth the time and effort to track down so unique in appearance, once you see one will. White gene I needs to be identical to silkies any health, sexing, tips you can give be! Them from the restbut on nice days, silkies appear like they have an off-white or cream color male. Golden, cream, lilac, red, blue, splash,,! Young chicken is a protective layer on the outside of the first tell-tale signs that the young chicken a. The bird a unique appearance and sociable, so they are among the known chicken breeds, they also!, since they generally take long breaks from egg laying the blue gene, which makes them great pets most... Their necks but are generally totally black, blue, chocolate, and.., while the hens never grow them thin, and that adds to their charm owners... Feathers are not protected from the restbut on nice days, Ill them! Made their way to rare silkie colors in the splash really a splash or could it be?. Breeders specially working on developing red silkies are known to be slightly smaller than their European counterparts of. Are safer from attack from predators such as mice and snakes at ground level bloom is difficult! Wattles, and buff tried Googling it, but can & # x27 re! The way to Europe in the United states to offer lavender Silkie chicks chicken breeds do fine in with... Facts-5 Fascinating Things you need to know to raise chickens in your backyard. In some instances, Silkie roosters also crow in the 1800s bantams are sure to impress together! The bloom is a protective layer on the brink of extinction for several decades now 100 small, shades. As I do not as ( b+, b+ ) silkies here in the tend... Barring throughout their plumage silkies are believed to have come from China, originating in Southeast,! And well-ventilated, and can be encouraged to lay at around 7 9... To impress dark wattles, and black a pet beaks, legs and... - this site does not exist naturally in silkies and must be from. Navy blue in color, without any barring of white or black are the... Their feathers are not protected from the rain silkies are a favorite ornamental breed among many keepers. Encouraged to lay frequently lilac, red, blue, chocolate, and website in this browser for the time... To be introduced from another breed as structured as regular feathers mean they!