SILKIES
Silkie chickens are precisely as they appear funny, cuddly, soft feathers, and looking to be your friend. If you're looking for an adorable, sweet-natured 'teddy bear' companion, this is the right breed. They are one of the friendliest chicken varieties and will appreciate your attention and company. Their unique appearance also makes them a popular exhibition bird. Silkie chicks can have clean faces or have a muff and beard. Most have a crest. For show, they need to have five black toes. Silkies are great garden girls. You can plant brassicas (cabbage plants) in their run area. The Silkies will keep the caterpillars and other pests at bay and fertilize the plants at the same time. It is delightful to observe the hens drink the droplets of fresh morning dew from the leaves like nectar. Permaculture means solving problems naturally. Spent bedding is a great addition to your compost pile adding much needed carbon, nitrogen and nutrients.
EGGS THEY GIFT
Gifts 2-3 white small eggs a week
PERSONALITY
If you're looking for a friendly, chatty, sweet-natured poultry pal as a first bird for your children or a companion for yourself, you may just have found your ideal. Silkie chickens are exactly as they look - funny, cuddly and very kind. They are one of the few chickens who would be happy to be kept in an apartment. Keep in mind they will need a chicken buddy. If you are low on space, Silkies are happy to be contained in a mud-free run. Their downy feathers mean they can't fly so roost bars need to be lower. Silkies go broody often and make excellent mothers even if hatching others’ eggs.
HISTORY
Believed to be originated in China during the Han dynasty. The Chinese term for Silkie is wu-gu-ji, which means black boned. In 1298, Marco Polo bragged about seeing a bird with black skin and "hair like a cat" on his travels to china. Considering Silkies, produce more carnosine compared to other poultry, they were used in Chinese medicine. Marco Polo introduced the first Silkie chickens to the western world. Silkies made their big debut in the 1900s. Several patrons paid to view the traveling circus side show ‘freaks” attraction where Silkies were described as "Chickens with fur instead of feathers".
SEXING METHODS
Several communities have laws in which roosters are not allowed. The sex of a Silkie is not reliably identifiable by external characteristics until mature. Vent sexing is not safe for bantam breeds. Thus, industry standard is to offer as an unsexed straight run. To assist city families, we offer Silkies with your choice of unsexed chicks as females with coverage or DNA sexed females.
