Silkie chickens are one of the most unique and recognizable chicken breeds in the world. With their distinctive fluffy appearance and gentle personalities, they’ve become increasingly popular as pets and exhibition birds. If you’ve ever wondered “what is a Silkie chicken?” – you’re in for a treat as we explore these remarkable birds.
Origins and History
Silkies originated in China, with their earliest documented Western mention coming from Marco Polo in the 13th century during his travels in Asia. In his journals he referred to them as “furry chickens.” By the 1500s Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi described “wool-bearing chickens” in his comprehensive treatise on chickens.
These unique birds likely made their way to Western countries via the Silk Route and maritime trade. They were officially recognized in North America when they were accepted into the Standard of Perfection in 1874.
Interestingly when Silkies first became more common in the West many myths circulated about them
- Early Dutch breeders told buyers they were crosses between chickens and rabbits
- Some sideshows promoted them as having actual mammalian fur
- They were often featured in circus “freak shows” as a supposed cross between mammals and birds
Unique Physical Characteristics
Silkies have several distinctive physical traits that set them apart from other chicken breeds:
1. Fluffy, Silk-like Feathers
Their most notable feature is their incredibly soft plumage, which feels like silk or satin to the touch. Unlike normal chicken feathers, Silkie feathers lack functioning barbicels (the tiny hooks that hold feathers together), making their feathers more like down. This unique feathering leaves Silkies unable to fly.
2. Black Skin, Bones and Meat
Beneath all that fluff, Silkies have black skin, black muscles, and even black bones! This rare trait is caused by fibromelanosis, a genetic mutation believed to have originated in Asia.
3. Turquoise Earlobes
Silkies sport bright turquoise-blue earlobes, which can sometimes be hidden by their fluffy head feathers.
4. Five Toes
Well-bred Silkies have 5 toes on each foot, unlike most chicken breeds that have only 4. This polydactyly is caused by a genetic mutation affecting the SHH gene.
5. Walnut Comb
They have small walnut-shaped combs that are dark or mulberry in color.
6. Size
Silkies are relatively small chickens:
- Standard males: 1.4-1.7 kg (3-3.5 lb)
- Standard females: 1.1-1.4 kg (2.5-3 lb)
- Bantam males: 0.6-1.4 kg (1.3-3 lb)
- Bantam females: 0.5-0.9 kg (1.1-2 lb)
Varieties and Colors
Silkies come in two main varieties:
- Bearded – with an extra muff of feathers under the beak that covers the earlobes
- Non-bearded
They’re available in multiple recognized colors:
- Black
- Blue
- White
- Buff
- Partridge
- Grey
- Splash
Some other color variations like chocolate, mauve, cuckoo, mottled, mille fleur, and red are in various stages of development.
Egg Production and Broodiness
Silkies aren’t known for being prolific egg layers:
- They lay approximately 100-120 small eggs per year
- Eggs range from cream to tinted in color
- Their egg production is often interrupted by their extreme tendency to go broody
This broodiness, which has been selectively bred out of most egg-production breeds, makes Silkies excellent mothers. Many chicken keepers use Silkies to incubate and raise offspring of other birds, including:
- Other chicken breeds
- Ducks
- Geese
- Game birds like quail and pheasants
Personality and Temperament
Silkies are beloved for their wonderful temperament:
- They’re calm and docile
- Very friendly and make excellent pets for families with children
- They enjoy being held and cuddled
- Even the roosters tend to be more laid-back than other breeds
- They’re very maternal and often hatch and mother other birds’ chicks
As one Silkie owner shares: “Silkies are docile, gentle and tolerant, so they make great family pets. Even the roosters are more laid back.”
Special Care Requirements
Because of their unique features, Silkies do require some special care:
Weather Considerations
-
Cold weather:
- They have a harder time maintaining body temperature in cold weather
- Their feathers don’t trap heat like normal chicken feathers
- They can tolerate temperatures down to 0 degrees if they have proper shelter and coop mates to huddle with
-
Wet conditions:
- Their plumage gets wet, unlike regular chickens’ water-repellent feathers
- They need to be completely dry before roosting at night
- May require towel or blow drying if they get significantly wet
-
Hot weather:
- Begin to feel uncomfortable when temperatures exceed 85 degrees
- Need shade and fresh cool water during hot weather
Vision and Protection
- Their fluffy head feathers can obstruct their vision
- It’s okay to trim feathers around their eyes to help them see better
- Due to limited vision and inability to fly, they need extra protection from predators
- Supervised free-ranging is recommended
Housing
- Since they can’t fly, they need lower perches and nesting boxes
- Many Silkies prefer to nest in bedding rather than roost at night
- Providing low roosts can encourage roosting, which is safer from ground predators
Integration with Other Chicken Breeds
When considering adding Silkies to an existing flock, careful integration is important:
- They’re smaller and can’t defend themselves as well as larger breeds
- Limited vision and inability to fly can make them vulnerable
- Introducing them gradually is recommended
- Raising Silkies with other chicks can help with integration
As one owner advises: “I spent a lot of time integrating them into the coop to see if it was safe for everyone. Silkies are smaller, can’t fly and unless you give them a haircut, they can’t see, so defending themselves can prove to be difficult sometimes.”
Cultural Significance
In Chinese culture, Silkies (known as “wu gu ji” meaning “black-boned chicken”) are highly valued:
- Used in traditional Chinese medicine since the 7th century
- Chicken soup made with Silkie meat is considered medicinal
- The meat is considered a gourmet food in several Asian cuisines
- Traditional Chinese soup with Silkie often includes wolfberries, mountain yam, aged dried citrus peel, and fresh ginger
Should You Add Silkies to Your Flock?
Silkies make wonderful additions to backyard flocks for those who:
- Want friendly, docile chickens that make good pets
- Are looking for exhibition birds with unique appearances
- Need broody hens to hatch and raise other birds’ eggs
- Aren’t primarily concerned with egg production
- Are willing to provide some extra care and protection
Their sweet temperaments and fascinating appearance make them a joy to have around, despite their lower egg production and tendency to go broody.
Silkie chickens are truly one-of-a-kind birds with their fluffy feathers, black skin, extra toes, and gentle personalities. While they may require some special consideration for their unique needs, many chicken keepers find that the joy and charm they bring to a flock more than makes up for any extra care. Whether you’re looking for exhibition birds, family pets, or reliable broody hens, Silkies are definitely worth considering for your backyard flock.
As one happy Silkie owner sums it up: “They’re silly and have such huge personalities for such tiny little chickens… If you’re considering adding this fun breed to your flock, I highly recommend them!”
Considerations Before Adopting Silkies
There are also some potential challenges that come with raising Silkie chickens. Before you add this breed to your flock, consider how you might handle the following issues.
Vulnerability– Silkies are more vulnerable to predators due to their limited vision and poor flying ability. The crest of feathers on a Silkie’s head will often grow out and become so fluffy that it can inhibit proper vision, so you may need to trim the area around their eyes to make a clearer sight path. They also need adequate ground shelter since they cannot easily fly away from danger.
Sexing– Silkies are very difficult to sex. When buying Silkie chicks, you often don’t have the choice of buying just pullets since they are commonly sold as straight-run chicks. This means you could end up with both roosters and hens without any easy way to tell them apart. It is easier to sex Silkie chickens once they have matured and you can more easily distinguish the roosters apart from the hens. Obviously, the most accurate way to sex Silkie chickens is to wait until he crows or she lays an egg!
Low Production– Silkies are not the best egg producers compared to other chicken breeds. A Silkie hen will only lay around 100-120 eggs a year and her desire to go broody can also interrupt her laying.
Fair Weather– Silkie chickens don’t thrive in wet, cold, or muddy environments. The feathers on their feet can get matted with mud or moisture, which can freeze during cold weather and lead to frostbite. Plus, their fur-like feathers do not shed water like regular feathers, so it is important that they stay dry. They also struggle in areas with extreme heat. Since their feathers do not have a rigid feather web, they are not as effective in insulating the Silkie against hot or cold weather.
Unique Traits of Silkies
Silkie chickens are distinguishable from other breeds by their unique appearance, most notably from their feathers. Silkie feathers lack rigidity which gives them a fluffy appearance and a softer texture. In contrast, normal chicken feathers have barbicels that make them stiff, more protective, and easier to shed water.
Another unique feature of the Silkie chicken is its skin color. Silkies have bluish-black skin, bones, and meat. The dark-colored skin is a result of the melanotic gene. Their facial features are also dark-colored as opposed to the red-colored facial features of other chicken breeds. In fact, if you find Silkie chickens with red facial features, it may be a sign that they were poorly bred or outcrossed with another chicken breed. Silkies also have turquoise-colored earlobes. But, contrary to the common belief that a chicken’s earlobes indicate what color eggs it will lay, Silkies lay creamy, brown-colored eggs.
Silkie chickens have a walnut comb that is small and often hidden by the crest of feathers on the top of their head. They can also come in bearded or non-bearded varieties. A bearded Silkie will have fluffy feathers below its beak that often hide its wattles and make the Silkie look like it has a ‘beard’.
Lastly, Silkie chickens have an ‘extra’ toe. Most chickens have four toes, with three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward. Silkies have a fifth toe attached to the rear back-facing toe on each foot, which is a genetic feature from breeding for the polydactyly gene.
There are a few key features of the Silkie chicken that have made them a popular backyard chicken breed. Here are some practical reasons why many flock owners decide to add Silkie chickens to their backyard:
Temperament– Silkie chickens have a very laid-back temperament that makes them docile, friendly, and sometimes affectionate. Silkies may even imprint on their human caregivers, following them around and chattering to them. Their calm demeanor allows them to adapt to confinement well, and they don’t mind living indoors.
Social Behavior– Silkie chickens do not have a dominant or assertive personality, which means they are often at the bottom of the pecking order in a flock of mixed chicken breeds. Silkies tend to do well in a flock of just Silkie chickens or in a mixed flock of other friendly, docile chicken breeds. They do make excellent pet chickens and can even thrive in a solitary setting if their caretakers give them enough attention. Silkie chickens are often ‘diaper trained’ and taught to walk on a chicken harness and leash. This makes them excellent therapy chickens that are safe to bring in nursing homes or schools for teaching purposes.
Manageable Size– Another feature that makes Silkie chickens so popular is their small size. The original Silkie chicken was bred to be standard size, but this variety is more common in the UK. In the United States, Silkies were bred for a smaller size and are now more bantam size. Here are the average breed standard weights for both bantam and standard-size Silkies:
- Bantam– Cock: 36 oz. Hen: 32 oz.
- Standard– Cock: 4 lbs. Hen: 3 lbs.
Their size makes them more suitable for small backyards or even indoor situations. Silkies don’t need as big of a coop as standard-size chickens do, and they also eat less as a result.
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FAQ
What is special about Silkie chickens?
Silkie chickens are special due to their distinctive fluffy, fur-like feathers, unique “black-boned” flesh and bones, and exceptionally gentle, docile nature, which makes them excellent pets. They are also one of the most broody chicken breeds, making them exceptional mothers and surrogate incubators for other poultry. Their unique physical characteristics, combined with their calm and friendly temperament, make them a favored choice for exhibition and as companions for children and even seniors.
Why is Silkie chicken meat black?
Silkie chicken meat is black due to a rare genetic mutation called fibromelanosis, which causes an overproduction of the pigment melanin throughout the bird’s body. This condition leads to the deposition of melanin not only in the skin and feathers but also in the muscles, bones, and internal organs, resulting in the characteristic dark coloration of the meat.
Why do people eat Silkie chicken?
Silkie chicken, an important chicken breed with high medicinal and nutritional value, has a long history of being used as a dietary supplement in China.
What are the pros and cons of a Silkie chicken?
Silkie chickens are beloved for their friendly temperament, adorable appearance, and excellent mothering abilities, making them great pets and a good choice for a mixed flock. However, their soft, fluffy feathers provide poor insulation in cold and wet weather, they are poor layers of small eggs, and their low-set eyes can hinder vision, making them vulnerable to predators and bullying. They also go broody frequently, stopping egg production, and are prone to parasites and Marek’s disease.