Silkie chicken
The Silkie is an ancient bantam-sized breed with fur-like fluffy plumage, black skin, five toes and a pompom crest. It is famous as a broody.
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The Silkie is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Asia; China, India or Japan (disputed).
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: White, Black, Blue, Gold, Partridge.
Expect roughly 90–120 eggs a year, with cream/tinted shells.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org, poultryclubsa.co.za. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Asia; China, India or Japan (disputed)
History
It is one of the oldest breeds on record. Fanciers credit Marco Polo with describing hens with 'hair like cats'. It was classified as a breed at the 1872 Crystal Palace show.
Appearance
Profuse fluffy plumage, a crest, a fifth toe and black skin. Colours include white, black, blue and partridge, among others.
Recognised colours
White, Black, Blue, Gold, Partridge
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 90–120
- Egg colour
- Cream/tinted
- Notes
- Hens come back into lay around New Year, when other breeds are still off lay. Hens lay fewer when allowed to sit.
Temperament
- In short
- Easily tamed
- Keeping notes
- Compact, lively and easily tamed. Cannot fly, so a low fence holds it. Susceptible to Marek's disease, so vaccinate unless you breed for resistance.
Hardiness
Susceptible to Marek's disease
Broodiness
Very broody; famed sitter
Flying
Cannot fly; low fence suffices
Suitability
- Good to know
- Its broodiness is so strong that hens may neglect food and water, so watch them. Dense under-fluff can fatally tangle chicks. It will hatch duck eggs.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Silkie Club, breed-specific · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
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