Complete Guide to Silkie Chickens: Unique chicken facts
Silkie chickens are unlike any other breed you’ll encounter. With their fluffy, fur-like feathers and gentle personalities, they have quickly become one of the world’s most widely recognized chicken breeds.
Whether you are new to raising chickens or a seasoned chicken owner, silkie chickens bring charm, curiosity, and beauty to any sized chicken flock.
In this complete guide to Silkies, we’ll explore everything from their breed traits and egg production to their care and why they’re considered one of the friendliest chickens.
Our Fluffy Chickens
I had a friend who was moving and couldn’t take her chickens, she gifted us six beautiful silver, white, buff and black silkies.
We had no problem catching their little fluffy butts.
I hauled them home in a dog crate, never mind the fact that my car was full of fluffy feathers by the time I arrived home.
The joys of homesteading! No feathers or chicken poo are going to ruin my day.
When I arrived home, my daughter, Lily, was so excited. She loves these “cuddly chickens,” as she fondly calls them.
We had them some years ago, and they passed on to chicken heaven, and she has wanted more ever since.
Those six silkies have since stopped laying eggs due to their age (it’s been four years, but they are about seven!), but they are still happily foraging and content to live out their lives in our flock.
If you’re unsure about adding Silkies, read below. I share my knowledge of the breed and personal experiences.
First, What is a Silkie Chicken?
Well, a Silkie is a fluffy, oh-so-soft bantam.
No other breed can even come close to its appearance or have soft, downy feathers unless it’s a Silkie crossbreed.
Origins and History of the Silkie Breed
This cute breed originated in Asia and is one of the oldest documented breeds.
Also Known as the Chinese Silk chicken, this breed was once believed to have medicinal powers due to its dark skin. The royalty dined on it.
I cannot imagine eating such a small bird, but I’d be willing to try it.
Their history dates back to the 13th century when Marco Polo documented a “chicken with cat-like fur” in his travels.
Not long after this, Silkies entered Europe and secured their spot in chicken history as the first and only chicken with feathers as soft as fur.
Journey to the United States
There is no documented history of the Silkies traveling to the United States.
Still, like everything, we can suspect traders of bringing over the breed via trading routes, maybe the Silk Road or during maritime trade.
The American Poultry Association recognized silkies as an official chicken breed in 1874, the only Silkie breed documentation on US soil.
Not long after this, the breed exploded in popularity.
This is mostly due to the fact that they are precious little fluff balls that love being handled and demand attention in the show ring.
Unique Characteristics of Silkie Chickens
If you have ever seen a Silkie up close, you would have noticed some distinctive features that other chicken breeds lack.
Silkies also belong to a group of chickens known for crests on top of their heads. I have a complete list of crested chickens, and Silkies are on that list.
Here’s a list of those characteristics
- Silkie’s Fluffy Feathers Feathers Without Barbs: Silkies have a soft, fluffy appearance because their feathers lack the barbs that hold them together, giving them a fur-like look.
- Black Skin and Bones Silkies have a unique genetic trait that causes their skin, bones, and internal organs to be black or dark blue.
- Five Toes Unlike most chicken breeds with four toes, Silkies have an extra toe on each foot (five toes in total), a rare trait in chickens.
- Friendly and Docile Temperament Silkies are known for their gentle, calm nature, making them great pets, especially for families with children.
- Tendency to Be Broody Their nurturing temperament makes them excellent mothers. They often become broody and are protective of their chicks.
- Have a crest of feathers-Unique Head Feathers: Silkies often have a large, fluffy crest of feathers on their heads, adding to their distinctive look.
- Feathered Legs and Feet Their legs and feet are covered in feathers, which adds to their fluffy appearance and gives them an almost “booted” look.
- Silkies Can’t Fly Well—Due to their fluffy feathers and smaller size, Silkies are not good fliers, but they are easy to manage in backyard setups.
- Blue or turquoise earlobes- Silkies are among the only breeds with turquoise earlobes.
- Silkies are Bantams– they are considered Bantams by the APA. There are no Large Fowl Silkies.
If you have ever owned a silkie, you will have noticed these distinctive features. Those turquoise earlobes and dark skin are hard to miss.
The American Poultry Association recognizes these colors when showing Silkies.
Black, White, Blue, Self Blue, Splash, Partridge, Gray, and Buff.
Silkies can come in bearded and non-bearded varieties.
The APA recognizes the above colors, but you will find Silkies in every color in your common backyard chicken flock.
Silkie Chicken Breed Traits
Feathering and Appearance
Very soft, silky, and smooth. They almost have a pom-pom appearance.
Blue earlobes or turquoise, with black skin, walnut comb, and five toes.
Temperament and Behavior
Docile, calm, chill, and happy chicken.
They are active and fun to watch free-range around the yard.
Size and Lifespan
They are considered bantams, so they are small but not the smallest bantam. I consider them one of the larger-sized bantam breeds.
- Silkie Hens wiegh 1-3lbs.
- Roosters 2-4lbs.
Lifespan depends on the health of your bird and the environment.
The average Silkie will live from 3 to 7 years. Ours are currently on year 7! They no longer lay eggs but are healthy and happy.
Silkies can live from 7-10 years or longer in some cases.
Pros and Cons of Owning Silkie Chickens
Pros of Raising Silkies
- They love their people!
- They are beautiful and great birds to add to your flock.
- They can hatch other eggs due to their broodiness.
- They are a fantastic breed for children who want a flock or to show chickens.
- They enjoy free-ranging
- They are docile
Common Challenges and Cons
- They go broody often.
- Not known for egg production.
- Not raised for meat production.
- They do not tolerate cold or wet environments due to their feathering.
- With their heavily feathered feet, you will need to clean and check regularly.
- Extra grooming due to the type of feathers.
Silkie Chickens Egg Production
Silkies are not known for their egg production or colorful eggs. They are known for their broodiness & mothering instincts.
How Many Eggs Do Silkies Lay?
Silkies lay about 100-120 eggs per year. They could be better layers, but most people own this breed for its other great qualities.
If you are interested in egg production, look into the Leghorn, Easter Eggers, and Rhode Island Red breeds.
Egg Size & Egg Color
Even though Silkies may have turquoise or blue earlobes, they do not lay blue eggs.
Earlobe color does not determine egg coloring.
Instead, their eggs are cream-colored and small.
Broodiness and Mothering Instincts
Silkies have excellent mothering skills! They will hatch whatever eggs you place under them and even raise them.
Why Are Silkies Known for Broodiness?
Yes, many people add one to their flock, so they want to hatch their eggs without using an incubator.
Tips for Managing Broody Silkies
Please read here for my tips on breaking a broody hen.
Fun Facts About Silkie Chickens
Interesting Breed Facts You Might Not Know:
- They have blue or turquoise earlobes
- They have unique feathering that sets them apart from every other chicken breed.
- They are great mothers.
- Friendly and docile
- Love to free range
- Perfect for kids.
- They have black skin & even bones.
- They are one of the many breeds with a crest or feathering on top of their head.
- They are fluffy and so very, very soft.
Are Silkies Good Pets?
Yes, Silkies make fantastic pets and are one of the top breeds people with young children purchase because they are friendly and sweet.
Common Health Issues in Silkie Chickens
A few diseases occur in Silkies. We have never seen them and have had Silkies for nine years.
- Scaly Mites
- Mareks Disease
- Water on the Brain.
Recognizing and Preventing Illness
Like any chicken breed, you must watch for signs of illness, such as sneezing and drainage from the eyes, nose, or anywhere else on the body.
- Eyes should be bright and alert.
- Earlobes should be debris-free, have no lumps, and be bright.
- Nostrils should be clear of dirt and not draining any liquid.
- Check feathers for signs of excessive dirt or mites.
- Clean Feet regularly, ensure pads are healthy, and show no signs of scarring, bumps, or infection.
- Trim claws or spurs if they become bent or overgrown.
- Combs and wattles should be bright.
- The Silkie should be alert and active unless it’s broody.
- Check poop for signs of blood or odd color.
- Check legs for anything weird-looking, dry, scaly patches, flaking, or anything unusual.
- If feathers look dull or brittle, they may need additional minerals.
Is a Silkie Chicken Right for You?
Considerations for First-Time Silkie owners.
For first-time Silkie chicken owners, here are several important considerations that I would follow to ensure a happy and healthy flock.
If you need help determining what type of chicken supplies to buy, I wrote a post on chicken supplies that we use at our homestead.
Safe, Dry Coop with Low Roosts: Silkies’ fluffy feathers aren’t waterproof, so they need a dry, draft-free coop to protect them from wet and cold weather. Silkies are also not great flyers; they hop, so ensure they have low roosts.
Predator Protection: Silkies are small and docile, making them the perfect snack for predators. Make sure your coop and run are secure with strong fencing.
Feather Care: Silkies can get dirty quickly, especially in muddy conditions, because of their fluffy feathers and heavily feathered feet. You must regularly check and clean feathers to prevent matting or infections on their feet. We have never had an issue, but we live in North Dakota, and our run is well-drained.
Vulnerable to Cold: Due to their silky feathers, silkies can be more susceptible to cold or damp conditions. We overwinter them with no problem here in North Dakota. Follow these winter strategies when overwintering your Silkies.
Avoiding Damp Conditions: Silkies cannot withstand damp conditions because their feathers do not offer insulation like those of other breeds.
Feeding and Nutrition: Depending on their age, silkies can be fed the same commercial layer or grower feed as other chickens. We feed layers crumble, ground oats (because we have a massive supply for feeding our cows), black sunflower seeds, and snacks.
Grit and calcium supplements (such as oyster shells) are also available for free-choice grazing.
Regular Health Checks: We have never experienced any health issues with our Silkies, but we regularly check their feet and feathers, looking for mites or respiratory infections.
How to Introduce Silkies to Your Flock.
One crucial fact to understand is that silkies are more docile than other breeds, so do not introduce your new silkies to aggressive breeds.
When I introduce new flock members, I follow the steps listed below.
To Introduce adult chickens to your flock, follow the steps listed here.
To introduce Silkie Pullets, follow the steps listed here.
Sizzles, Satin, & Smooth Satin Silkies, what are they?
There are some different terms floating around the Silkie market, and they relate to feathering. This can be confusing if you’re a first-time buyer.
I understand that a Sizzle is a Silkie with frizzled feathers, also called a Frizzled Satin.
A Smooth Satin chicken has feathers that lay flat, similar to those of a regular chicken, but it still retains the Silkie breed traits.
The Frizzled Silkie has downy, soft feathers, but they curl upward and are not as coarse as the Frizzled Satin.
I hope this helps. I’ll try to do a blog post on this topic someday!
If you would like to understand more about Frizzling in chickens read all about it here.
