Are you wondering what color eggs those adorable fluffy Silkie chickens lay? Maybe you’ve heard conflicting information or you’re thinking about adding these unique birds to your backyard flock. As a long-time Silkie owner myself I’m here to give you the complete scoop on Silkie chicken eggs and their distinctive coloring.
The Quick Answer: Silkie Egg Color
Silkie chickens lay eggs that are cream to white in color Some Silkie eggs may appear slightly tinted or off-white, but they generally fall within the white color spectrum Unlike some exotic chicken breeds that produce blue, green, or chocolate-colored eggs, Silkies stick to the classic white to cream shade.
About Silkie Chickens: The Fluffy Wonders
Before we dive deeper into their eggs, let’s take a quick look at what makes Silkies so special:
Silkies are known for their unique silk-like plumage that feels like satin when touched These adorable chickens stand apart from other breeds with several distinctive features
- Black skin (yes, even their meat and bones are black!)
- Blue earlobes
- Five toes instead of the usual four
- Walnut-shaped combs
- Inability to fly
- Fluffy, fur-like feathers without barbicels
These chickens originated in China and have a fascinating history. Marco Polo even mentioned encountering “furry chickens” during his 13th-century travels! Their name likely comes from the Silk Road, where they were traded extensively.
Silkie Eggs: Size and Appearance
Now, let’s talk about those eggs!
Color Characteristics
Silkie eggs typically appear:
- White to cream colored
- Sometimes slightly tinted
- Consistently light-colored (they don’t lay colored eggs like Easter Eggers or Ameraucanas)
Size Matters
Silkies lay relatively small eggs compared to standard chicken breeds. Their eggs are classified as:
- Small to extra-small in size
- According to UK standards, smaller than 53g
- In US standards, small eggs weigh 42.5g or less
- Peewee or extra small eggs weigh less than 35.4g
To put this in perspective, a jumbo chicken egg from a larger breed typically weighs over 2.2 ounces (66g). So Silkie eggs are perfect for small appetites or children’s breakfasts!
Comparing Silkie Eggs to Other Chicken Eggs
To help you visualize the difference, here’s how Silkie eggs compare to eggs from other popular chicken breeds:
| Chicken Breed | Egg Color | Egg Size | Eggs Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silkie | White/Cream | Small/Extra-Small | 100-120 |
| Rhode Island Red | Brown | Large | 250-300 |
| Leghorn | White | Large | 250-300 |
| Ameraucana | Blue | Medium/Large | 180-200 |
| Marans | Dark Brown | Large | 150-200 |
As you can see, Silkies aren’t champion layers compared to some breeds, but their eggs are uniquely charming in their own way!
Why Are Silkie Eggs White/Cream?
You might wonder why Silkies lay white eggs when they have so many other unusual characteristics. The color of chicken eggs is determined by genetics, specifically pigments deposited during egg formation.
White eggs lack the pigment called “oocyanin” (which creates blue eggs) and “protoporphyrin” (which creates brown eggs). Despite Silkies’ black skin, they don’t transfer any dark pigments to their eggshells during the laying process.
Egg Production: What to Expect
If you’re planning to keep Silkies primarily for eggs, I should warn ya that they’re not the most prolific layers. Here’s what you can expect:
- Approximately 100-120 eggs per year (about 2-3 eggs per week)
- Late start to laying (7-9 months of age, sometimes up to a year!)
- Frequent broodiness, which pauses egg production
- Small but delicious eggs with proportionally larger yolks
While they might not fill your egg basket like a Rhode Island Red or Leghorn, Silkies compensate with their sweet personalities and ornamental value. Many Silkie owners keep them more as pets than as productive livestock.
Are Silkie Eggs Safe to Eat?
Absolutely! Despite the chickens’ unusual appearance and black skin, their eggs are completely normal and safe to eat. In fact, they’re quite tasty!
Silkies that free-range tend to produce eggs with bright yellow yolks thanks to the insects and greens they forage. Many Silkie owners report that the yolks of these bantam eggs are proportionally larger compared to the whites than in eggs from larger breeds.
Nutritional Value of Silkie Eggs
Like all chicken eggs, Silkie eggs pack a nutritional punch! They’re loaded with:
- Vitamins A, K, D, E, B5, B12, and B6
- Minerals including calcium, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus
- High-quality protein
- Choline, an important nutrient for brain health
Despite their smaller size, they’re just as nutritious as larger eggs – just in a more petite package!
Tips for Getting the Best Eggs from Your Silkies
If you’re hoping to maximize egg production from your Silkie flock, here are some tips:
- Provide quality feed – Use a good commercial layer feed with proper calcium content
- Offer oyster shell – Make this available separately so hens can self-regulate calcium intake
- Keep stress low – Silkies are sensitive birds that may stop laying when stressed
- Manage broodiness – Silkies love to go broody, which stops egg production
- Be patient – They mature slower than other breeds and may take longer to start laying
Common Questions About Silkie Eggs
Do all Silkies lay the same color eggs?
Yes, all Silkie hens lay eggs in the white to cream color range, regardless of the Silkie’s feather color. Whether you have a black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, self-blue, splash, or white Silkie, their eggs will be consistently light-colored.
Will my Silkie eggs get bigger as the hen matures?
Like most chickens, Silkies typically lay smaller eggs when they first begin laying, with the egg size gradually increasing as they mature. However, even at their largest, Silkie eggs will remain smaller than those of standard-sized chickens.
Are white eggs and brown eggs nutritionally different?
Nope! The color of the eggshell has no bearing on nutritional content. A white Silkie egg has the same nutritional value as a brown egg of the same size from another breed. The chicken’s diet impacts nutrition more than shell color.
Using Silkie Eggs for Hatching
If you’re interested in hatching Silkie eggs rather than eating them, here are some quick facts:
- Incubation period: 20-21 days (slightly shorter than larger breeds)
- Stop turning eggs on day 17 (not day 18 like larger breeds)
- Humidity: 45-55% for the first 17 days, 55-65% for hatching
- Temperature: 99.1°F for forced air incubators, 101°F for still air incubators
Silkies are excellent mothers and will happily hatch eggs themselves if allowed to go broody. They’ll even hatch eggs from other chicken breeds, ducks, or turkeys!
Final Thoughts
Silkie chickens may not be egg-laying champions, but their adorable appearance, sweet temperament, and uniquely cute white to cream colored eggs make them wonderful additions to any backyard flock.
I’ve kept Silkies for over 10 years now, and while I definitely don’t rely on them for my family’s entire egg supply, there’s something special about collecting those perfect little cream-colored eggs. Plus, the chickens themselves are like living stuffed animals that follow you around the yard!
If you’re considering adding Silkies to your flock, don’t let their modest egg production discourage you. These charming, friendly birds offer so much more than just eggs – they’re delightful companions that happen to produce delicious little breakfast treats in pretty white packages.
Have you kept Silkies before? What’s been your experience with their egg color and production? Share your stories in the comments below!
Did you find this article helpful? Be sure to check out our other guides on raising backyard chickens and different chicken breeds!
What size eggs do Silkie hens lay?
Just as there are many different chicken breeds, there are many different sizes of eggs. Egg sizes can range from 1.25 oz to 2.5 oz (35g – 70g) per egg. Commercially, an extra-large egg is any egg larger than 2 oz (59g) and jumbo anything above 2.2 oz (66g). However, some breeds – especially those bred as layers – lay consistently large eggs for you to enjoy.
Silkies lay extra small to small eggs. According to the UK standards, a small egg is an egg that weighs less than 53g. In the US a small egg will weigh 42.5g or less and a peewee or extra small egg will clock in at less than 35.4g.
Has your Silkie ever laid a record-size egg for the breed? Let us know in the comments! We’re always delighted to hear your backyard flock stories!
Keeping Silkies for Eggs
Silkies are notoriously slow growers and they take quite a long time to mature. Your Silkie hens will only start laying at approximately 7 – 9 months of age, but some may take even longer.
Don’t be surprised if it takes your girls up to a year to produce even a single egg. It is a fairly common belief that the longer a Silkie hen takes to start laying, the larger her overall production will be – so good news for the late bloomers!
Silkies will generally consistently lay their eggs for two years or so, then gradually their production will start to decline. A hen won’t simply one day stop laying eggs altogether. You will only notice that she might not be laying as much as usual anymore and then she might skip an entire week. At five years old a hen’s production is at 50% of what it used to be and it readily declines from there until at the age of eight your Silkie is only laying an egg once in a blue moon.
You would be forgiven for assuming that you would need at least one nesting box per hen.
Chickens are social little animals and most hens will very happily share their nesting box. You will also find that not only do they like to share, but if you have multiple nesting boxes, you might find that all your girls lay in the same one – keeping their eggs in one basket you might say.
When designing your coop, it is a good rule of thumb to provide one nesting box for every three to four hens. If you’re getting four little ladies to provide you with breakfast, get at least two nesting boxes – that way they can take their pick!
As a side note, Silkies are also known for going broody and it will cause less squabbles if you have enough nesting boxes to go around should one of the little bantams decide to go broody.