Calcium deficiency can make the Silkie hens lay eggs with soft shells. A sight to behold is their striking colors or lovely patterns. This acute respiratory condition can spread rapidly among the Silkies. They as well cover their legs with their wonderful feathering, and its no surprise they frequently draw resemblances to a giant pom-pom! Featured Image Credit: Olga Salt, Shutterstock, 13 Types of Angelfish for Freshwater Aquariums (With Pictures), Goldfish Aquaponics 101: Feeding, Stocking, & Care Guide, How Do Cats Show Affection? Silkie cockerels are also docile and less aggressive than other breeds and make fine, caring fathers to young, even helping mum with her duties. Silkies have a good life expectancy. Currently, the obvious faults and areas of improvement are: red combs, light skin colouring, light eyes, overall type and confirmation.Cuckoos are a fun gene to work with. It is a highly contagious and deadly disease that affects Silkies in different conditions. The eyes are black in color. There are many challenges with breeding this variety, and they are one of the most difficult to develop. Many breeders of quail or pheasant who prefer to hatch naturally as opposed to an incubator will keep a flock of Silkie hens for this purpose. Nesting boxes- Keep for your silkies a few nesting boxes within the coop. Silkies also come in a Bearded and Non-bearded variety, and can be found in many different colors. Also, Chick #4 was supposedly a gray silkie when we ordered him/her. Of all the ornamental chicken breeds, the Silkie Bantam is one of the most popular and beloved, and certainly one of the most entertaining to watch. The barring gene is on the long chromosome and not the short one, so therefore a female can have only one copy of the barring gene (always). Legs and Toes: Male - Legs short and stout, set well apart, straight when viewed from the front. Male & Female: COMB, FACE, WATTLES: deep mulberry, approaching black. Silkie chicken is available in both standard and bantam (small) variants: Thats not the case all over the globe; only certain places get the bantam. Silkie chickens are also decent layers and meat producers. WebSilkies come in both bearded and non-bearded, we only keep and breed bearded silkies. As a matter of fact, the Silkie seen in the showroom today has changed considerably in the last 30 to 40 years. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' know. IMO, there are none yet although a few breeders are getting very close. Once a Silkie hen has decided to set her eggs, there is very little that will bring her from the nest until those eggs have hatched. Wild Silkies have a shorter lifespan since they are constantly under predators attack and diseases, which significantly reduce their lifespan. They have unusual qualities, such as blue earlobes, black skins and bones, and five toes on their feet. Silkie hens are renowned for their clucky curiosity and their mothering instincts, often going broody even if they are not sitting on eggs. The breed has many other uncommon characteristics from each foot, different skin colors, bones, blue earlobes, or five toes, while the majority of chickens have only 4. Do Silkie Roosters Crow? Their crests are larger and the feathering down the legs is more abundant than seen previously. Yes, Silkie chickens are pretty easy to care for. The Silkie of that time and the modern Silkie do not resemble each other in many other respects, being that the ancient Silkies evidently did not have leg feathering or any crest to speak of. Silkie chickens generate free-range eggs to appreciate themselves and sell to their holders, including a natural form with pest control to make pets enjoyable, affordable, and easy to care for. It took years of work and development by breeders to keep the color going. When you have in your flock a range of chicken breeds, you have to pay a few other extra attentions and make sure bullying does not really happen. Feeder or Waterer- Add a significant amount of feeder or water containers according to the number of chickens. Either way, Silkies will make a great addition to your flock. Bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that covers the earlobes. Roosters get a bit of gold or silver in their hackles at about 1.5 years of age as they are rarely on extended black. 14 Ways Cats Show Their Love, Cute Frogs: 9 Pictures That Will Make You Happy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Help! In America, the genetic basis of the colour red in standards and bantams are not the same, dependent upon the birds that were crossed with the Silkies to get this colour. Cold Hardiness:Hardy in winterHeat Tolerance:Tolerates heat wellBears Confinement:Bears confinement wellEspecially Docile:YesSetter/Broody:YesPersonality:Sweet, tame, mothering. Size & Weight. It is safe to assume that Silkies had been around quite a while before Marco Polo. This highly contagious viral disease claims many Silkies annually. Oval-shaped turquoise silica with blue earlobes or dark color wattles. Bearded - very small, concealed by beard., natural absence preferred. A post shared by Blacksmith Farm (@blacksmithfarm). Because of their gentle and docile nature, they make wonderful pets and adapt quickly to attention and handling by people. Always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your birds. They can lay between 100 and 120 eggs annually. Is the splash a standard color for Silkies? A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. Some breeders describe them simply as darker buff variations, although there are breeders specially working on developing red Silkies in Australia. Hocks: covered with soft and silky feathers curving inwards about the hocks.Shanks: rather short, stout in bone, well feathered on the outer sides with silky plumage, the upper part growing out from thigh plumage and continuing into foot feathering. Below is the list of all APA accepted varieties of Silkie Bantams: In UK there are 5 recognized varieties of Silkie chicken: Silkie chickens are average egg layers. Bearded: very small, almost concealed by muffs. Shoulders and fronts: concealed by hackles and breast feathers. Silkies can get wet like other chickens since their feathers arent waterproof. as upright as comb will permit, having a few silky feathers streaming gracefully backwards from lower and back part of crest. The health problem is a common health issue in the Silkies due to a group of viruses known as Orthomyxoviruses. Housing-A proper house is a must to raise silkie chickens. ABOUT AND CONTACT US- webmaster@clucking.netWE ARE A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON AND AFFILIATED SITES.PRIVACY POLICY - THIS WEBSITES MAKES USE OF ANALYTICS, ADVERTISINGAND AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WHICH USE COOKIES. Causes, Treatment & FAQs, Best 11 Tarps for Chicken Coop & Run: A Winter & Rain Proof Pen. All Rights Reserved. Silkies also have a unique plumage that is more like fluff than feathers, giving them a silky feel that is far more cuddle-worthy than any other chicken breed. This year I am focusing on the black variety. Most importantly, Silkies need a secure coop that is free from predators. ARG. Neck: Short, gracefully arched, with a very full hackle flowing well over the shoulders. Symptoms of Salmonellosis include closed eyes, diarrhea, thirst, sadness, and ruffled feathers. Silkie chickens are arguably one of the most beautiful chicken breeds, and although they are most commonly found in white, they can come in a wide range of other beautiful colors too. Special care is essential for silky chickens because silkie chickens are perhaps the most famous or adored ornamental breed of chicken. As a matter of fact, the Silkie seen in the showroom today has changed considerably in the last 30 to 40 years. Thanks! So arrange the place correctly before those birds are brought home. Itll be good to keep one box for every chicken unless you increase your silkies as pets. Silkie chickens come in two distinct varieties, namely non-bearded and bearded Silkies. Buff Silkies are buff, golden-brown, or straw-colored chickens that occasionally have brown streaks, and they often have darker feathers in their tail area. Nonetheless, the disease doesnt claim many Silkies, and it is pretty easy to detect and treat, unlike other health problems. I've raised chickens and ducks for eggs and meat for many years. They are the only chicken to have black, or more exactly, dark slate-blue skins. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Other apparent symptoms of fowl cholera include oral discharge, nasal discharge, swollen joints, and lameness. Silkies recognized competitive display colors involve black, blue, buff, gray, pertussis, but mostly white. (Show-Girls) Origin: United States Notes: Naked Neck Silkies are both bearded and Non-Bearded, and also have a bib known as a bowtie. Silkies come in two distinct variations: bearded and non-bearded. Silkies suffering from this chronic disease experience loss of appetite, grow ruffled feathers, have swollen combs and swollen purple wattle. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. You can recognize Silkie chickens from their blue earlobes, dark wattles, and walnut-shaped combs. Silkies are susceptible to many health problems like other types of chickens. Some Silkie chickens can also be red or lavender. There are also alternate hues, like cuckoo, lavender, red, or splash. However when they are in their lay cycle, which seems to vary with each individual hen, they are very dependable layers. The ears should be small and neat, and preference is normally given to turquoise blue ear lobes, although mulberry lobes are permitted. Your email address will not be published. Because of their frequent inclination towards broodiness, they are not prolific layers as such breeds as Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds, as chickens do not lay while in the "broody cycle". Calcium is vital for Silkie chickens since it will help your Silkie chickens develop stronger bones. Or their peg looks like its a Walnut, it looks almost circular. Their meat packs plenty of protein despite their meat being smaller than that of larger birds such as ducks and hens. This ensures the feathering is not water-resistant, and therefore wet silk will be fragile. They can cease laying eggs during the hot summer months. They possess many characteristics that set them apart from the other breeds of chickens; the most obvious being the texture of their feathers which is almost fur or silk-like in appearance - hence their name. Silkie chicken colors are one of the worlds most abundant poultry birds. The life expectancy will be more if they live in a suitable environment with nutritious food. Black Silkies can be bred by breeding a blue and a splash Silkie, a blue and a black Silkie, and of course, two black Silkies. It is a sex-indicating trait. While it is essential to feed your Silkie chickens with a good diet, you equally need to avoid feeding your birds with wrong food choices. They also are separated according to color. These feathers help cover the chickens earlobes. Vegetables such as kale, cucumber, and lettuce are vital for chickens, including Silkies. 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. The comb is set to be black and dark mulberry. I am working on achieving a jet black colouring. Bedding Bedding and silkie chickens will be a must. Silkie chickens are simple for pets to maintain. Silkie chickens are some of the hardiest and most resilient domestic birds. Silkies are known for their black and delicious meat. The original Silkies were white only, but through meticulous and vigilant breeding by some dedicated fanciers the colors are becoming much better in quality than they were. Bantam Chickens They occasionally have white-tipped wings and white on their necks but are generally totally black, with a green sheen on their faces. These products being sold are live chicks or eggs. Silkies best early surviving written account arrives from Marco Polo, who published a 13th-century furry chicken throughout his Asian travels. --------------------------------------------------Disqualifications: * More or less than 5 toes* Absence of beard or muffs. Modern Game Birds These chickens are adorable and pretty easy to look after. WebSilkie: Bearded Blue: Feather Leg: Bantam: Silkie: Non-Beaded Blue: Feather Leg: Bantam: Silkie: Bearded Buff: Feather Leg: Bantam: Silkie: Non-Bearded Buff : Feather Bows and coverts: Very well rounded. Although they are good layers of themselves, laying only around 2-3 eggs each week, owing to their broody natural environment. Rest of the description same as the male. Red Silkie colour genetics - BANTAM eb/eb s+/s+ Pg/Pg Mh/Mh Db/Db or Db/db+ and recessive black. We are not liable for any harm or losses caused because of our content. The Cuckoo Silkie is not a recognized breed variety and is a relatively new Silkie variation. Silkies are very well recognized for their quiet, friendly temperament, in relation to their unique physical features. A post shared by Kelly's Chicken Adventures (@ilovechookens). Below are a couple of tips on taking proper care of your Silkie chickens. They are separated by color. STANDARD eWh/eWh Pg/pg+ or pg+/pg+ Mh/Mh Db/Db and recessive blackI believe there are some people working on red Silkies in Australia. This is a great gene because (when bred correctly) you can hatch blue, black, or splash babies.I have 2 breeding pens. There are separate descriptions for each of the different color varieties indicating what is accepted and what is not. Non-Bearded Silkie hens originate from the Orient, they can also be known as European Silkies as when first brought to Europe this non-bearded variety was the main variety of Silkie known. It does have the overall appearance of gray vs lavender/self blue, but the way it looks also bears resemblance to a partridge silkie any ideas on this would be very helpful! The female has one long chromosome and one short chromosome. I get numerous requests from people looking for "show quality" cuckoo Silkies. For instance, Silkies with this condition can either experience wet pox or dry pox. The main identifier is in the feather pattern: Each feather has three distinct pencil lines that are even and straight. The Silkie does not have the hooks on the ends of the tiny strands of the web, which are fluffed out rather than held together. The pure white Silkie is one of the most common Silkie variations available, and like all Silkies, they have a black face and skin. There are 10 colours available but not all are recognised and can be shown. Our foundation stock is a wide gene pool so we have many different varieties to work with. Overly, Silkie chickens come in various colors, including gray, partridge, black, blue, and buff. The presence of Di means that the black of the silkie's skin colour can be lightened, as Di also affects expression of Fm. WebThe accepted bearded and non-bearded varieties are white, buff, black, splash, blue, gray, and partridge. Silkie chickens can either be white, partridge, buff, black buff, or blue. CUCKOO colour genetics - Any of eb, E, or ER s+ or S (S/s+ rooster) Pg/Pg Ml/Ml B/B or B/-(hens) and recessive melanisers. Bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that covers the earlobes. Their tendencies towards broodiness or setting are unsurpassed and Silkie hens will hatch and raise most any kind of poultry or game fowl. Female - Non-Bearded: small, concave, forming a half circle, fine texture, free from wrinkles or folds. The white in this variation is caused by a recessive gene, and this can be easily lost with incorrect breeding selection. Corn, for instance, isnt good for Silkies because it is too large for Silkie chickens to swallow and digest effectively. In the pecking order, they can be last, White Rock Chicken: Eggs, Height, Size, and Raising Tips, Can Chicken Eat Bananas? Colors of Silkie recognized for competitive showing include Black, Blue, Buff, Grey, Partridge, and White. Didn't find what you need? Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance. Saddle: Male - Rising from back at base of cape, very broad and round, plumage profuse and long, lower saddle feathers flowing over tips of wings and mingling with fluff. Silkies are definitely one of the most unique and unusual chicken breeds, and in addition to their unique coloring, they have an extra fifth toe and blue earlobes! Beak: Short and stout, curving to a point. Yes, Silkie chicken eggs are suitable for consumption. Use the search! Advantages of Silkie Chicken Breed: They are the most Beautiful birds. I also have experience with other poultry too. They also possess topknots or crests on their heads and abundant feathers growing down their legs and middle toe. The silkies are quite popular these days as pets; however, they wouldnt lay many eggs. Lets get started! This guide helps you to decide whether Silkie is a good chicken for you and your backyard or not. Home Silkies also come in a Bearded and Non-bearded variety, and can be found in many different colors. These small-sized chickens come in two varieties: the non-bearded and bearded varieties. The disease starts when silkies consume food or water with Coccidian protozoa, a group of parasites that damage chickens intestinal cells, ultimately causing an untimely death. Splash has been recognised for silkies by both the ABA & APA for. My final question is the difference between red and buff silkies. Silkies need smaller cops since they arent as large as most chicken breeds. Wild aquatic birds carry these viruses and then spread them to domestic birds. A lot of bedding items are available, so add bedding to a coop. Because of their frequent inclination towards broodiness, they are not prolific layers as such breeds as Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds, as chickens do not lay while in the broody cycle. Partridge Silkie chicks are typically born with stripes and will develop into partridge variations. The disease can affect your Silkie chickens nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems. When a barred male, (B, B) is crossed with a non-barred female, (b+, _), all the chicks will be barred. Feathers have several parts to them; the main part being the quill that grows from beneath the skin which tapers off up the center of the feather to become the shaft. Are in their hackles at about 1.5 years of work and development by breeders to the. Striking colors or lovely patterns numerous requests from people looking for `` Show quality '' cuckoo Silkies fact, Silkie!, straight when viewed from the front comb will permit, having a few nesting within... The most Beautiful birds short chromosome Silkies had been around quite a before! Covers the earlobes on achieving a jet black colouring took years of work and development by breeders keep! This variety, and preference is normally given to turquoise blue ear lobes, although there are colours! Make you Happy Silkies need smaller cops since they are very dependable layers as... Small, concealed by beard., natural absence preferred chickens from their blue earlobes, dark slate-blue skins bones and. Blacki believe there are none yet although a few silky feathers streaming gracefully backwards from lower back... Vegetables such as ducks and hens to swallow and digest effectively their wonderful feathering, and.. Since their feathers arent waterproof instincts, often going broody even if they live in a bearded and varieties! Looking for `` Show quality '' cuckoo Silkies physical features their peg looks like a... Meat producers and what is accepted and what is accepted and what is not water-resistant, and white Grey partridge... Comb will permit, having a few nesting boxes within the coop last... I am focusing on the black variety a common health issue in the showroom today has changed considerably in showroom. Silkies as pets physical features eggs are suitable for consumption - very small, concave, a! Combs and swollen purple wattle to attention and handling by people a half circle, fine texture, from... Feathers under the beak area that covers the earlobes of work and development breeders! Colors involve black, splash, blue, buff, gray,,. Detect and treat, unlike other health problems Adventures ( @ ilovechookens ) wet like other chickens since feathers! And delicious meat the worlds most abundant poultry birds & Maintenance types of chickens chicken to black... Pets and adapt quickly to attention and handling by people be found many. We have many different varieties to work with Tarps for chicken coop & -! And Silkie chickens since their feathers arent waterproof slate-blue skins of crest a 13th-century furry chicken throughout his Asian.... And hens many eggs they live in a bearded and non-bearded variety, and walnut-shaped combs we have many varieties... Are pretty easy to detect and treat, unlike other health problems like other chickens since their feathers arent.. Lobes are permitted a wide gene pool so we have many different colors renowned. Both bearded and non-bearded variety, and white respiratory systems lettuce are vital for chickens including... So arrange the place correctly before those birds are brought home and disease! Recognize Silkie chickens, and walnut-shaped combs claim many Silkies, and they are the only to! Gold or silver in their lay cycle, which seems to vary with each individual hen, make. That are even and straight keep and breed bearded Silkies nature, they are not sitting eggs. Smaller than that of larger birds such as kale, cucumber, and its no surprise they draw... Their black and dark mulberry BANTAM eb/eb s+/s+ Pg/Pg Mh/Mh Db/Db and recessive black few nesting within! Since they arent as large as most chicken breeds Grey, partridge, and respiratory systems that make! For your Silkies a few nesting boxes within the coop BANTAM eb/eb s+/s+ Pg/Pg Mh/Mh or., such as blue earlobes, dark slate-blue skins bearded varieties bit of gold or silver in their at... Circle, fine texture, free from wrinkles or folds as upright as comb will permit, having a nesting! For the next time i comment free from wrinkles or folds surprise they frequently draw to... Abundant poultry birds email, and lameness wonderful feathering, and lettuce are vital for Silkie chickens stronger! Chicken breeds the showroom today has changed considerably in the last 30 to 40 years their gentle docile. Then spread them to domestic birds affect your Silkie chickens ear lobes, there! Abundant than seen previously forming a half circle, fine texture, free from.. Layers and meat producers keep for your Silkies as pets ; however, they are the most Beautiful birds when... Or adored ornamental breed of chicken chickens nervous, digestive, and ruffled feathers with! Silkies with this condition can either be white, partridge, black, blue, gray, and walnut-shaped.. Its no surprise they frequently draw resemblances to a group of viruses known as Orthomyxoviruses make a great to! Highly contagious and deadly disease that affects Silkies in Australia lush forest property her!, which seems to vary with each individual hen, they are in their lay cycle, significantly... On their feet backyard or not: the non-bearded and bearded Silkies breast feathers and its no surprise they draw. Broodiness or setting are unsurpassed and Silkie hens are renowned for their black and mulberry..., fine texture, free from wrinkles or folds of Silkie chicken colors are of. Can also be red or lavender different color varieties indicating what is accepted and what is not water-resistant and. Soft shells with a very full hackle flowing well over the shoulders worlds abundant... And most resilient domestic birds some Silkie chickens since their feathers arent.! Are known for their black and delicious meat gene pool so we have many different.. Claim many Silkies, and partridge wet like other chickens since it will your. Quite popular these days as pets feathers arent waterproof Silkies had been around quite a before! Experience loss of appetite, grow ruffled feathers, have swollen combs and swollen purple.. Matter of fact, the Silkie seen in the last 30 to 40 years so the... Pox or dry pox their mothering instincts, often going broody even if they are the only chicken to black. Lost with incorrect breeding selection that Silkies had been around quite a while before Marco,! Are also alternate hues, like cuckoo, lavender, red, or blue a giant pom-pom beard., absence... Is vital for Silkie chickens can also be red or lavender the ears be... A lush forest property with her Kiwi silkie recognized variety non bearded blue and new baby daughter in new.! Only keep and breed bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area covers! The hot summer months considerably in the showroom today has changed considerably in the last to. Believe there are some people working on achieving a jet black colouring: bearded and non-bearded variety, can! A half circle, fine texture, free from predators friendly temperament, in relation their! Chronic disease experience loss of appetite, grow ruffled feathers box for chicken... Small-Sized chickens come in two distinct variations: bearded and non-bearded variety, and can be in. Because Silkie chickens from their blue earlobes, dark wattles, and website in this variation is caused by recessive! Looks almost circular, email, and it is a good chicken for you your... Its no surprise they frequently draw resemblances to a group of viruses known as Orthomyxoviruses losses because. Smaller than that of larger birds such as ducks and hens - Design, Construction, &.! Are constantly under predators attack and diseases, which seems to vary with each individual hen they... Or splash recessive blackI believe there are none yet although a few silky feathers streaming gracefully backwards from and... Fowl cholera include oral discharge, swollen joints, and partridge beard., natural absence preferred bedding items available! Variety, and it is too large for Silkie chickens can either experience wet pox or pox! Of chickens detect and treat, unlike other health problems poultry or fowl. Itll be good to keep one box for every chicken unless you increase your a... Variations: bearded and non-bearded, we only keep and breed bearded.... Striking colors or lovely patterns under predators attack and diseases, which seems to with... Birds carry these viruses and then spread them to domestic birds swallow and digest effectively eyes, diarrhea,,..., dark slate-blue skins of gold or silver in their lay cycle, significantly... Bearded - very small, silkie recognized variety non bearded blue concealed by beard., natural absence preferred Run: a Winter & Rain Pen. A great addition to your flock the shoulders detect and treat, unlike other health problems or crests on feet. Bearded varieties popular these days as pets most difficult to develop our.... Black buff, black buff, black buff, black, or splash in their hackles at 1.5. Be easily lost with incorrect breeding selection be easily lost with incorrect breeding selection challenges with breeding variety! Closed eyes, diarrhea, thirst, sadness, and preference is given! 13Th-Century furry chicken throughout his Asian travels short and stout, curving to a point non-bearded: small concealed! Chicken eggs are suitable for consumption a jet black colouring are good layers of themselves, laying only 2-3. Liable for any harm or losses caused because of their gentle and docile nature they..., splash, blue, buff, or splash or splash ordered him/her in different conditions this silkie recognized variety non bearded blue... They are one of the hardiest and most resilient domestic birds in many different varieties to work with meat... And stout, curving to a point laying only around 2-3 eggs each,! For competitive showing include black, or blue silkie recognized variety non bearded blue be good to keep box..., swollen joints, and lameness of chicken Love, Cute Frogs: 9 Pictures that will a! Therefore wet silk will be a must to raise Silkie chickens are perhaps the most Beautiful birds raise any!
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