This guide helps you to decide whether Silkie is a good chicken for you and your backyard or not. The chronic disease affects nearly half of the Silkies across the globe. Fowl Pox also makes young Silkies experience stunted growth. 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. I am Bijaya Kumar and I have been raising chickens for the last 10 years. The colors which are recognized by both the American Poultry Association and the American Bantam Association are White, Black, Blue, Buff, Gray, Partridge and Splash. 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. Can't you tell why? Silkie chickens are some of the hardiest and most resilient domestic birds. Splash has been recognised for silkies by both the ABA & APA for. Silkies are among the few other breeds of chickens that possess five toes instead of the usual four. Blue colour genetics - Any of E or ER or eb s+ or S (S/s+ roosters are possible) Pg/Pg Ml/Ml Bl/bl+ and recessive melanisers.The hardest part about breeding blue Silkies is getting lighter (versus too dark) shades.My blues have the Andalusian gene. Buff Silkie colour genetics: eb/eb s+/s+ Co/Co db/Db Di/Di Cb/CbOR eWh/eWh s+/s+ Co/Co (Db/Db Di/Di) Cb/CbBuff is a difficult colour and can be based on partridge (eb) or wheaten (eWh). Face: Surface smooth, skin fine and soft in texture. The wire mesh shouldnt have holes that exceed 0.5 inches wide. Ensure adequate climate from Predators You should make them quiet from predators to raise silkie chickens. 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? With good care, though, Silkies can live for approximately nine years or even more. They have lovely clean necks with no beard muffs. Bearded - very small, concealed by beard., natural absence preferred. However, even standard Silkies are relat Paint Silkies are essentially black Silkies that carry one dominant white gene, resulting in a truly unique-looking bird with dalmatian-like spots. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Here are the ones that are recognized: white, black, blue, partridge, buff, gray, splash, self-blue (lavender) and paint. The lavender color does not exist naturally in Silkies and must be introduced by another breed. Grey Silkies are more silver than grey, with a sheen over their plumage when viewed in sunlight. Since their introduction you can now find 4 types of Silkies including Showgirls and Sizzles. Silkie chickens are extraordinary little chickens. They typically have a dark grey head or a light grey head streaked with dark grey bands and an even grey body. They are typically dark in color, with a black head and tail and light penciling on their wings. The eggs of Silkie hens are white to cream in color. WebThey are the only chicken to have black, or more exactly, dark slate-blue skins. Size & Weight. He spoke of wool-bearing chickens, so those hairing such as the hair of a black cat.. The other symptoms of Mareks disease include vision impairment and gray iris or abnormal pupils. The exception is that not every colour is accepted as standard. Our live chicks are shipped as soon as they are hatched. 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. It is a highly contagious and deadly disease that affects Silkies in different conditions. 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. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam-sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. Help! We will describe so much about caring for silkie chickens here. They adore human enterprise or enjoy being overwhelmedwhich all makes them the ideal family pet. Most importantly, Silkies need a secure coop that is free from predators. 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. Why do Chickens Abandon their Chicks Too Early? The bantam hens lay small size eggs whereas the standard fowl lay large size eggs. Some of the tell signs that your Silkies could be having coccidiosis include diarrhea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, and ruffled feathers. Bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that covers the earlobes. These chickens have a heavy feathering around their beak areas, extending to their ear lobes. The primary feathering is like a frequent chickens bottom. Both bearded and non-bearded varieties can be included in the order. All Rights Reserved. Silkies have a good life expectancy. Were happy to find Silkies all around the world so in the backyard many flocks! The content on this blog is for educational and entertainment purposes and does not substitute for any veterinary advice or business advice. You can raise Silkies as pets since they are pretty friendly and affectionate towards their owners. Take a look at the white Silkie in depth. (Show-Girls) Origin: United States Notes: Naked Neck Silkies are both bearded and Non-Bearded, and also have a bib known as a bowtie. 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. Unripe, Peel, Fruit Part, Best 17 White Chicken Breeds With Pictures, Info, Eggs, Weight, Best 11 Chicken Breeds with Feathered Feet (Info & Pictures), Red Ranger Chicken: Eggs, Height, Size, and Raising Tips, Chicken Comb: Types, Color, Benefits, Pictures, and FAQs, Chickens Laying Soft Shell Eggs? 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. Silkies are known for their black and delicious meat. Silkie chickens are likely to cost more in areas where there arent many people raising these chickens. About Us * Shanks not feathered down outer sidesSee APA Standard for Other DQs and cuts. I am working on achieving a jet black colouring. Do you want to know all about Silkie Chicken? READ THE FULL DISCLAIMER.GDPR - THIS SITE DOES NOT COLLECT OR STORE ANY INFORMATION. It took years of work and development by breeders to keep the color going. WebSilkie Standard. gold and even blue! These chickens are adorable and pretty easy to look after. Thanks to their tiny size, silkie chickens need much smaller cages than other chickens. They also possess topknots or crests on their heads and abundant feathers growing down their legs and middle toe. Lavender is a recessive color and thus requires two copies of the gene to express itself in the plumage. The naked neck is acquired by breeding a turken to a Silkie. They are among the most enjoyable birds to observe as well. --------------------------------------------------Disqualifications: * More or less than 5 toes* Absence of beard or muffs. WebSilkies appear in two distinct varieties: Bearded and Non-bearded. Varieties shall include the standard recognized varieties: White, Black, Blue, Splash, Buff, Gray, Partridge, and Food- Perfect or adequate feeding is a crucial factor in the care of silkie chickens. Below are a couple of health problems that Silkies have. Copyright 2023 - LearnPoultry. In my opinion, coloured Silkies are among the most beautiful birds in the poultry world. These chickens have five toes on every foot. Unlike chickens, Silkie chickens are highly susceptible to Mareks disease. Bearded Silkies have an extra beard, or u201cmuff,u201d of feathers underneath their beak. Beard & Muffs: Bearded varieties - thick, full, extending back of eyes and projecting from sides of face and composed of feathers turned horizontally backwards, from both sides of the beak, from the center, vertically downwards, the whole forming a collar of three ovals in a triangular group, giving a muffed effect. The color does not exist naturally in Silkies and must be introduced by another breed. The main identifier is in the feather pattern: Each feather has three distinct pencil lines that are even and straight. Such Silkie Chicken breeds also create a wonderful broody hen, or almost anything will sit on that. Silkies are among the few other breeds of chickens that possess five toes instead of the usual four. My final question is the difference between red and buff silkies. Silkie chickens are pretty small. On average, Silkies live for around seven years. 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! Your email address will not be published. Hey, I'm James, a hardworking homesteader for more than 30 years. They are one of the best furry chickens over the last few decades or the challenge through the breeding process. Chicken Accessories Shop 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. Lets get started! This is a great gene because (when bred correctly) you can hatch blue, black, or splash babies.I have 2 breeding pens. Large Pure Breed Chickens Although Silkie chickens are simple, fun, or affordable to bring as pets, sickly chickens can be obtained, which helps make it much harder or more costly to keep the flock healthy. Consider providing your Silkies chickens with layer crumbles instead of pellets, which are too large for the Silkies to swallow without choking. The offspring are then bred back to a Silkie for several generations to acquire a Silkie chicken with a necked neck. Silkie chickens are decent layers, notwithstanding their tiny size. yes it is ( to my knowing ) i have got grand ch at 4h shows befor with splash ,( tell me if i am wrong ). Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! Protein is vital for Silkie chickens, particularly laying Silkies. A lot of bedding items are available, so add bedding to a coop. In many cases even the males can possess some of the maternal instincts and can be very gentle towards the chicks, calling them over when he finds a tasty tidbit and as soon as the chicks are old enough to venture any distance away from Mom, they will be seen running around with Dad just as often. 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. Although for show purposes, variations do not apply.There are five standardised colours in the UK. The silica is broad or stout; the back is short and the breast is full. Hi- I'm new to showing. They occasionally have white-tipped wings and white on their necks but are generally totally black, with a green sheen on their faces. Silkie Chickens http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Silkies/BRKSilkies.html. However, if you really need to increase a few of these amazing birds, then youll have to understand the purpose of caring for silkie chickens properly. There are also Silkie chickens in India. A post shared by Blacksmith Farm (@blacksmithfarm). Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Buy 10 for $5.30 ea. Account Login Wings: Medium size, closely folded, carried well back and nearly horizontal, well above the lower thighs ending short of stern. The comb is set to be black and dark mulberry. I have only ever seen them in white. The difference between the two is the presence of an additional layer of feathers below their beaks. It is an autosomal, incompletely dominant gene.In America the partridge colour is based on gold, with the addition of Mh. It is also essential for egg development. There are seven recognized colors of Silkies,. Silkie Chickens are identified for being among the most gentle or docile chickens. Helpful advice for someone wanting to start their first silkie project? In the pecking order, they can be last, White Rock Chicken: Eggs, Height, Size, and Raising Tips, Can Chicken Eat Bananas? Also, visit the American Silkie Bantam Club for lots of information and to find breeders. Some Silkie chickens can also be red or lavender. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. Bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that covers the earlobes. Because of their gentle and docile nature, they make wonderful pets and adapt quickly to attention and handling by people. WebThey are the only chicken to have black, or more exactly, dark slate-blue skins. Female - short, broad from shoulders to cushion, quite rounded its entire length, rising gradually from middle of back towards tail. They're the lap kitty of the chicken world, complete with hair-like plumage and an incredibly sweet temperament. READ OUR FULL PRIVACY POLICY.DISCLAIMER - I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE IS ACCURATE, MAINTAINED TO A HIGH STANDARD AND UP TO DATE. Cushion: Rising from back at base of cape, very broad and round, plumage abundant. Neck: Short, gracefully arched, with a very full hackle flowing well over the shoulders. Sneezing, purple discoloration, and coughing are also common symptoms of this health condition. You can also feed your Silkie a mash from bran, carrots, a couple of vegetables, and grated fruits such as apples or tomatoes. A post shared by Kelly's Chicken Adventures (@ilovechookens). ChickenJournal.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Silkies also come in a Bearded and Non-bearded variety, and can be found in many different colors. Buffs is one of my favourite coloured Silkie varieties. Bantam Chickens There are some other colors, like Red, Splash, Cuckoo, and Lavender. WebSilkie: Bearded Blue: Feather Leg: Bantam: Silkie: Non-Beaded Blue: Feather Leg: Bantam: Silkie: Bearded Buff: Feather Leg: Bantam: Silkie: Non-Bearded Buff : Feather Silkies originated in the Far East, where they are still kept (and eaten) today. I was looking up Partidge Silkie to see if it was accepted and stumbled on this thread. The parasitic health condition damages the gut in Silkie chickens. There are only 7 recognised colours of Silkies; buff, blue, black, splash, partridge, Gray, and of course white.If you like competition, raise the white variety.If you want to be different, raise the blue/black/splash varieties as these are the only colours that can be 'interbred. 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. The two newer recognized colors are bearded self-blue (also It may not display this or other websites correctly. Silkies ~ Colors and Gender Guide {May need tweaks}. I get numerous requests from people looking for pullets, however, the key to breeding all cuckoos is the male. Symptoms of Salmonellosis include closed eyes, diarrhea, thirst, sadness, and ruffled feathers. APA Standard Of Perfection for Bearded Silkie 2001. They can lay between 100 and 120 eggs annually. How to Keep Your Chickens Warm in Winter? These feathers are just like regular feathers, however, and extend down to their legs and feet too. 'If you are a masochist, raise buffs as there is a lot of culling involved.If you are a die hard for punishment, raise partridge as this is one of the hardest patterns and colours to get right.Greys are a patterned bird; blues are essentially solid coloured.Grey is partridge with silver rather than gold. Do they show bearded Silkies against non-bearded? There isnt an actual price for Silkie chickens since the cost depends on the size of a Silkie chicken. Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance. The bearded Silkie chicken has They are perfect for children, however, should be treated with care as with any pet. Replace corn with rice or wheat. Their bones are also bluish or black, while their meat is grayish-black. Silkie Chickens (often spelled Silky) is the chicken breed called for its unusually furry and fluffy plumage that is said to believe like satin or silk. Thanks! Virginia Rose is a woody perennial suckering shrub in the rose family native to eastern North America and grows 4-6 feet tall. 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! Silkies will occasionally need to keep warm in the cold weather, and installing a heat lamp in your birds coop will provide your Silkies with enough heat to keep them warm. Cuckoo/Splash or A.O.C Silkies can only be entered into the non-standard Silkie class at shows.Silkies appear in two distinct varieties: bearded and non-bearded. Feeder or Waterer- Add a significant amount of feeder or water containers according to the number of chickens. From each side of the shaft comes the web which are tiny strands that are held together by small hooks or barbicels on the ends of the strands which gives the feather their typical appearance. The disease can affect your Silkie chickens nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems. The underscore indicates her short chromosome lacks the location of that gene.When a barred female (B,_) is crossed with a non-barred male, (b+, b+) results in all the male offspring being barred and the females are non-barred. They start laying at the age of 7-8 months and stop laying eggs after 2-3 years. Its one of the purposes of why keeping Silkies outdoors is not suggested they have reduced vision, and also because of their feathers, they could not jump as large as other birds do. All breeds are fully vaccinated against Mareks, Newcastles and Infectious Bronchitis, all are reared to our high standards for top quality rare, pure breed and hybrid pet poultry for your home and garden. Their skin, beaks, toes, and legs are all black too. 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. 2. Blue/Splash Blue Silkies are an even-toned blue throughout their plumage, almost slate grey in color, without any barring of white or black. 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. They will even go broody without the presence of eggs. The wattles in the male are small and neat and a For instance, Silkies with this condition can either experience wet pox or dry pox. I also have experience with other poultry too. Silkies tend to be quite affectionate towards their owners, especially when they accord them proper care. Advantages of Silkie Chicken Breed: They are the most Beautiful birds. 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. Silkies with this disease also lose weight over time. Female: medium size, soft and full, globular, upright, well balanced. Also, there are 2 dominant types, Silkies could be bearded and beardless, and showgirl Silkies get the naked neck gene. Your experiences may be different to mine. 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. Class:Feather-legged BantamType:BantamSize:BantamRarity:CommonPurpose:OrnamentalRecognized Varieties:Bearded & Non-Bearded: Black, White, Partridge, Buff, Gray, Blue, Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Cream or TintedEgg Size:Small, Comb Type:Walnut CombCrested:YesFeathered Legs:YesNumber of Toes:5. Silkies are not an overly hardy breed, although suited to our British climate they prefer to stay dry and warm, as their soft feathers are not waterproof and take a long time to dry, Silkies do not like to be too cold or have their house in a draft. We've seen other splashes win at shows. The meat of silkie chicken is often used in Chinese medicine, as this is rich in such a carnitine-carnitine will have anti-aging effects. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. Colours of Silkie recognised for competitive showing includeblack, blue, buff, grey,partridge, andwhite.Alternative hues, such as cuckoo, lavender, red, and splash also exist. Silkies recognized competitive display colors involve black, blue, buff, gray, pertussis, but mostly white. This combination will result in blue or splash offspringSilkie chickens blue breeding chart:Blue X Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black , 25% SplashBlue X Splash = 50% Blue , 50% SplashBlue X Black = 50% Blue, 50% BlackBlack X Black = 100% BlackSplash X Black = 100% BlueSplash X Splash = 100% Splash. Early documentation shows that these chickens were prevalent in China before they became popular in Asia and the rest of the globe. Or their peg looks like its a Walnut, it looks almost circular. Bedding makes it easier to clean up the coop since you will only remove the bedding once it wears out and then replace it with new bedding.