![]() Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam-sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. Silkies are considered a bantam breed in some countries, but this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. They are often kept as ornamental fowl or pet chickens by backyard keepers, and are also commonly used to incubate and raise the offspring of other chickens and waterfowl like ducks, geese and game birds such as quail and pheasants. In the 21st century, Silkies are one of the most popular and ubiquitous ornamental breeds of chicken. Early Dutch breeders told buyers they were the offspring of chickens and rabbits, while sideshows promoted them as having actual mammalian fur. Once Silkies became more common in the West, many myths were perpetuated about them. The breed was recognized officially in North America with acceptance into the Standard of Perfection in 1874. Silkies most likely made their way to the West via the Silk Route and maritime trade. In it, he mentions "wool-bearing chickens" and ones "clothed with hair like that of a black cat". In 1598, Ulisse Aldrovandi, a writer and naturalist at the University of Bologna, Italy, published a comprehensive treatise on chickens which is still read and admired today. The earliest surviving Western written account of Silkies comes from Marco Polo, who wrote of a "furry" chicken in the 13th century during his travels in Asia. Other places in Southeast Asia have been named as possibilities, such as India and Java. It is unknown exactly where or when these fowl with their singular combination of attributes first appeared, but the most well documented point of origin is ancient China. Silky chickens have been bred to have many colors consisting of 1.Black 2.Blue 3.Buff 4.Partridge 5.Splash 6.White 7.Lavender 8.Paint 9.Porcelain Although they are fair layers themselves, laying only about three eggs a week, they are commonly used to hatch eggs from other breeds and bird species due to their broody nature. Hens are also exceptionally broody, and care for young well. In addition to their distinctive physical characteristics, Silkies are well known for their calm, friendly, temperament. They are often exhibited in poultry shows, and also appear in various colors. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. The Silkie (also known as the Silky or Chinese silk chicken) is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. The breed is renowned for its broodiness and mothering abilities. Silkie Varietiesīlack, blue, gold, white, partridge, triple laced partridge, triple laced silver partridge, grey, cuckoo, red and buff.A black Silkie hen and a non-Silkie chick. They have a lifespan of around 9 years and can be tamed and considered a real pet which makes them especially suitable for children. The black skinned and black boned silkie is considered a delicacy in China where they believe that the ground up bones have special healing properties. ![]() They are rather susceptible to scaly leg but are robust little chickens and can withstand the cold very well. They don\'t have waterproof feathers so they need to be kept in dry conditions but require little room so can be kept in smaller runs. They stop laying altogether during the summer months. They begin laying around Christmas when the hen will happily sit on a clutch of eggs and will still go broody even if her eggs are removed! Silkies are frequently used as foster mothers for other hen's eggs. They are calm, friendly, trusting and rather lively birds which are unable to fly so can be kept with very low fencing and they also do very little damage to the garden. Silkies do tend towards broodiness and make wonderful mothers despite being rather poor layers. The legs are purplish blue in color and they have a fifth toe. The comb is circular and described as a mulberry comb and the wattles are concave, semicircular and not particularly long. The beak is short and broad, the face smooth and the eyes black and bright. They have short, rather ragged looking tails and the head is short and neat with an upright and full crest. ![]() It is thought that they originated in India, China or Japan and they arrived in Europe around 200 years ago where they were sold as crosses between rabbits and chickens! They are a lightweight chicken with a broad, stout looking body which is covered in fine fluffy feathers. The origin of the Silkie hen is uncertain although they have been around for several hundred years. ![]()
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