This is a breed of chicken that I am not familiar with at all but when Ed Marshall, one of the subscribers of this blog sent over pictures of his favorite hen which is half Silkie, it gave the perfect opportunity to highlight another breed…
Ed has sent me a few emails and has told me he is new to raising chickens. This hen was given to him by a friend of his. He said she is every color of the rainbow, fluffy like a silkie, with feathers on top her head. He can’t think of a name for her so if you want to give your input, please comment to this blog as he visits frequently. Ed also admits that the “chicken bug” has bitten him…he thinks he is going chicken crazy! He is enjoying the healthy, fresh, free range eggs. We can all agree with him on that.
So with Ed’s input todays breed highlighted will be Silkies. Silkies are one of the oldest, most beautiful and unique breeds of bantam (meaning small) chickens. Silkie feathers are unique because they lack the barbicels that hold a normal feather together, so a silkie feather resembles hair. Their black skin and feathers that feel much like hair make them one of our most unusual varieties of chickens. Silkies come both bearded and non-bearded.
Now this is one feathery, hairy, chicken! This is a hen. How can I tell? Well here is a picture of a roo…
This rooster has a comb in the front and wattles so it is fairly obvious.
Here are a few more features about the Silkies:
- A walnut comb resembling a walnut half, very fleshy, on the bridge of the beak. Hens have them but are much smaller than a rooster.
- Non-bearded silkies have large wattles where a bearded silkie (hen and roo) have small wattles, barely noticeable.
- Black skin and five toes (most other breeds have four).
- Most broody breed
- Lays small eggs with a light tint
- Hardy in heat and cold but not suited for foul weather due to feathering
- Very docile and friendly
- Average lifespan of 8 to 9 years
- Weighing in at 2.2 lbs. it is probably the most popular bantam breed
The Silkies come in a variety of colorings as you can see by the many pictures I posted. These chickens tend to be used for showing alot. I see them frequently at our local fair.
One thing that puzzles me is how these chickens can see with all the feathers/hair around their eyes. My friend, Farmerchick Paula, wrote a post on her blog, The Fraker Farm, about one of her chickens and how she kept bumping into things so she gave it a new hairdo…
I am sure that chicken was thanking Paula for giving her the gift of sight back!
Here’s another one of Paula’s Silkies. Her name is Clementine. I’m not sure how old she is but she looks fairly young to me in the photo.
That’s enough about the Silkie Bantams for now. I appreciate Ed and Paula for sharing with my readers their chickens and experiences.
UPDATE 8/23: I just heard from Ed, who is not really Ed, she is Samantha, Ed’s wife using his email address. Thank you Samantha for your continued readership, sharing of pictures, and letting us know it is really you!
Tags: chicken breeds
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Oh Carole, I just love your blog!!! I was going back reading your previous posts at the different breeds, and like you, I want them all!
Ed’s chicken is so pretty… how about Delilah? I think she looks like a Delilah.
By the way, Clementine is just 4 months old…. she and the other 2 new ones are about a month younger than my original 3. I haven’t noticed much difference in size, but the younger ones feathers have not completely turned from “chick fuzz” to the beautiful silkie feathers.
I read something pretty interesting in a Poultry book the other day…. the Silkies due not do good in extreme weather because their feathers do not hold heat in the winter and does not insulate them from the heat in the summer. Their feathers are useless in protection against the elements, too, because they are not water repellent as most poultry feathers are!!
I have kept chickens for many years (since I was 6 or 7) and I would have to say they have become my absolute FAVORITE breed so far- they are so sweet and they turn into wonderful little pets. I can see now why they are so popular!
Farm Chick Paulas last blog post..How to tell what kind of Guard Dog you have.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Me again-
I just found those other pictures I was telling you about… they were still on the camera card! *DUH*
Sorry I didn’t get them to you soon enough… I’ll do better next time!! LOL
Farm Chick Paulas last blog post..How to tell what kind of Guard Dog you have.
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August 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 am
Paula, Thanks for commenting, your compliments, and sharing with everyone. No problem on the other pictures. I’ll look forward to reading about your new chickens soon over at your place.
There you go Ed, how about Delilah?
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August 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
They are so cute! I will get to see some at our county fair in september.
sandyzs last blog post..THE NECK
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January 12th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
This is Samantha “Ed” Marshall (Ed is my husband) I have just recently gotten back online. I LOVE Delilah as a name for the rooster. lol He just started crowing one day… and it occured to us.. wait! That is NOT a hen. HA!
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April 22nd, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Hello everyone!! My husband just bought home 5 Cucko Marans last week and then today he came home with a baby silky. will they get along?
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April 22nd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Hello everyone!! Last week my husband bought home 5 Cucko Marans and then today he came home with a baby Silkie. Will they get along?
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November 25th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hi, I was given a silkie chick and am wondering how many regular eggs she can accomodate in one sitting.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Hans
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March 21st, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Hi,
I fell in love with the picture of Ed’s half-silkie hen! Does anyone know what other breed Ed’s hen is? Please email me if you do. I’d really like to buy or raise a chicken that looks a lot like her!
Amber
P.S. I think Laika is a beautiful name for Ed’s hen
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