You want a rooster that’s going to have a good temperament and not attack you (or your children) every time you go outside. People say that the Silkie has like a UV-cone in their eyes, enabling it to see shades of color which helps them to be such good forages, and even to determine the health of their chicks!. The overall result is a soft, fluffy appearance. Both the black and buff varieties are fairly common and a source can be located for hatching eggs or livestock. Goat Fish That’s the Silkie, and with that, comes an equally lovely personality. Silkie Rooster Appearance and Breed Standard Silkie roosters are slightly different from the standard chicken breeds as they have oval-shaped turquoise blue earlobes, fluffy plumages, five toes (typically, chickens have four toes), grey legs, dark-colored wattles, … Care must be taken if more than one rooster is kept to ensure the birds cannot reach each other. Silkie chickens have quirky personalities. Silkie Chicken Physiology and Personality. silkie rooster temperament You Can Build A Chicken Coop With Alternative Materials Once you have found the plans for chicken coops that you want, the types of materials for use are the next big obstacle to overcome. And it is currently one of the most entertaining birds to watch. The Silkie has turquoise earlobes that are oval shaped with dark wattles; the beak also grey-blue in color. It is among the most docile of poultry. Silkie roosters are more docile and better natured than some other breeds. But it is a standard breed of large fowl class. Today the breed is the most popular and ubiquitous ornamental chicken breed. The earliest recorded account about Silkie chickens is dated back in the 13th century. Sitemap Disclaimer Silkie chickens are sweet, charming chickens, calm and docile. Ostrich Silkies originated in the Far East, where they are still kept (and eaten) today. My friend, Patti, in Mississippi has bantams and they were very aggressive. The Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its cute manner and fluffy plumage that feels like silk or satin. It can affect all chicken breeds though. 🙂 Let’s share some of them one by one on the blog. Their plumage looks like fur or down instead of feathers. Silkies cannot fly up to a high roosting bar but do like to sleep in a heap together on the floor at night. In addition, Silkie hens make wonderful brooders and mothers, and are even known to adopt baby ducks if given the chance! While Silkie chickens are technically categorized as bantams, many people consider Silkies a different class of bird altogether. The Silkie chicken should be kept in dry conditions, because their feathers are not waterproof. They’re very quiet and reserved, but can make quite the racket when sounding a predator alarm or laying an egg. The earliest written account of Silkie chickens came from Marco Polo during his exploration of Asia in the 13 th century. It might be necessary to trim their feathers around their eyes so that they can see a bit better as well. Hens are also exceptionally broody, and care for young well. I personally own both and find their temperaments to be the same as the Light Brahma. The average lifespan of Silkie chicken is around 9 years. The first guy in this video just started crowing this morning, he crows so hard that he falls on his butt. Bearded White Silkie Cock When one thinks of the Silkie Chickens, one thinks of soft silky, fluffy hair – its lovely plumage. Deer DIY Chicken Feeder And Waterer Because of their small size and personality they are better off not mixed with other chicken breeds – tendency to be bullied. They are unable to fly and can be kept easily with low fencing. In the USA the Silkie is classified as a bantam breed, and these can weigh in only at around 18 ounces. This breed is said to have originated in China. Sometimes the feathering on a Silkie’s head is so profuse that it’s difficult to see its face. Subscribe ROY'S FARM newsletter for news, updates and receiving notifications of new posts by email. Duck With its interesting features, it slowly became very popular, making its way to Europe through traders and merchants navigating and passing through the Silk Route. Silkies have an ancient history of which their exact origin is unknown.One point in their origin that is well documented is Ancient China as such the birds were once known as Chinese Silk Chicken.Marco Polo wrote of a “furry chicken” he encountered during his travels to Asia in the 13th Century. As the breed is small in size, so they are mistakenly called a bantam breed in some countries. The pros and cons of the Silkie Chicken … They arrived in Europe around 200 years ago, and reached the United Kingdom around the mid 1880s. Unfortunately, our home is not the right fit for a rooster. Silkie chickens are bred more for ornamental purposes than for the meat and the egg-producing abilities. This is not necessarily a bad factor. The Silkie chicken appears in two distinct varieties. Is The Silkie Chicken Right Choice For You? Stopping aggressive rooster behavior is not impossible. We have had him since he was two days old and would like to see him go to a new flock and a happy family. The female Silkie’s friendly and gentle temperament makes it an excellent mother, and for it to do well in confinement or when interacting with children. Hi, this is Pauline G. Carter. Silkie chickens are also separated according to color. Silkie chicken was first admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1874. This feathering also extends down their legs. They are small, smart and gentle. silkie rooster temperament. As a downside, its calm nature often results in Silkies being bullied by more active and aggressive breeds when there are mixed flocks. But they are great mothers, and go broody frequently. Review characteristics, behavior, temperament and full breed profile of Silkie chicken below. Unlike many breeds, the silkie standard varies in other countries. Jun 10, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Tammie Holt. With their fluffy feathers, they can also be vulnerable to lice and mites to you need to pay attention to the health of these gorgeous birds. The eyes are black. Thought be originated in China, India or Japan. Although the Silkie chickens have been around for several hundred years, but it’s origin is uncertain. Many people want to keep them as pets because they have such sweet personalities and they look so striking and cute. The British Poultry Standard and Australian Poultry Standard call for much smaller bantam Silkies. Do Silkie Roosters Have Spurs? The pros and cons of the Silkie Chicken …, Related Topic – 15 Most Common Chicken Diseases, Symptoms and Treatment, Your email address will not be published. Not all Silkie cockerels grow into angry roosters. Research… It is a very old Asiatic chicken breed. They are even supremely happy to hatch the eggs of other birds. This consists of a puff of feathers atop its head. Behavior/Temperament. Terms Of Sevice No one is 100% about the Silkies’ origins, although it is believed they started somewhere in China or India; somewhere in Asia. According to the British Standard, the roosters weight 0.6 kg and hens 0.5 kg. They also have quite dense ‘under fluff’, and sometimes the tiny chicks get caught up in this which sometimes results in fatalities. They seem to enjoy plenty of attention and become rather tame. Rabbit They are also known to be susceptible to a disease called Marek’s Disease. Luckily, not all roosters are aggressive. They are unable to fly and can be kept easily with low fencing. Related Topic – 69 DIY Chicken Coop Plans and Ideas – Easy to Build (100% Free). Silkies are well known for their calm, friendly temperament. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Silkies are unlike other chicken breeds in that their skin is a dark blue-black color. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); PoultryCareSunday.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Standard Silkie roosters weight about 1.8 kg and hens about 1.36 kg. Sil… This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Silkies are known for being docile and friendly. They usually do little or no damage to the garden if given them to access freely. Turkey, About Us They have black skin and bones and 5 toes instead of the normal 4. Chicken Run Plans & Ideas Silkies as Pets. About | Contact They usually do little or no damage to the garden if given them to access freely. Let’s Go …. Learn how your comment data is processed. Cow Some of the Silkie breeds have a skull which arches upward, making the crest look more prominent. It has hair-like plumage, which is considered as actual mammalian fur. Both of my Silkie roosters are now crowing! The breed was valued as a medicinal food item because of its black skin and bones. A key difference between a silkie hen and a silkie rooster is size. The boys make good pets and will look after their ladies well. Silkie Chickens make wonderful pets. It may be best to avoid keeping a Silkie chicken in a mixed flock, as this can cause some dominance issues. They are a lightweight chicken breed with broad, stout looking body which is covered in fine fluffy feathers. They also have good maternal instincts, willing to sit on other birds’ eggs, even turkeys. American Game chicken is a gorgeous breed and very hardy. Their feathers lack functioning barbicels, and are thus similar to down on other birds. Bearded variety has an extra muff of feathers under the beak area which covers the earlobes. Advertise And the bantam Silkie chicken is actually a separate variety. Don’t get them if you want them for eggs or meat. The Silkie or silky is a breed of chicken, the name is derived from its atypically fluffy plumage, its plumage is very smooth like silk and satin. Discover (and save!) They are not noisy either, being quiet in nature. Check Out This Article In Order To Prevent That From Happening. Other chicken breeds also have crests. The Silkie has 5 toes compared to most other breeds which only have 4. Roosters are larger than hens and have larger, rounder wattles with larger combs. Their legs color is dark-blue with abundant feathering. The breed is extremely suitable as pets, especially suitable for children. It’s one of the best things about them, and generally speaking, the roosters are more docile and calm tempered than a lot of other breeds. Because they are docile, they can get bullied by other chickens. Your email address will not be published. Their eggs are creamy in color and size of eggs is small-sized to medium sized. 2. Other colors also exist, which include; Red, Splash, Cuckoo and Lavender. According to the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection, all the Silkie chickens have small walnut comb which is a deep mulberry approaching black. Silkie hens are not good layers. Silkie chicken is very calm, trusting and friendly. And Australian Poultry Standard weight for bantam Silkies is 0.68 kg for roosters and 0.57 kg for hens. Silkie chickens are sweet, charming chickens, calm and docile. Not popular with most “people”. It has been compared to silk, and to fur. Silkies have black skin and bones. silkie rooster temperament Essential Furniture for the Chicken House -- Nest Containers and Roosts Okay, you are making headway on how to build an easy chicken house. A common breed, the silkie is a true bantam meaning that they are only available in bantam (miniature) size. There is a bantam version of this breed. They have five toes and fluffy feathered feet. Last Updated on September 12, 2020 by Pauline G. Carter. PVC Chicken Feeder. But they’re a good breed to start with if you have children and want a passive roo. But until now, the exact date is still unknown. They certainly have a much more calm and docile temperament than for example, the Cornish or the Old English Game Fowl – two breeds known for being aggressive. Their feathers are extremely soft and satin like and lovely to stroke. The Bantam size weighs in at approximately 2 1/2 pounds and the standard size weighs approximately 9 pounds. When looked after, and that also means keeping them clean and dry, they can live around 9 years old. Marco Polo wrote about his travels in Asia, and he mentioned a furry chicken. Silkie has two sizes: The Silkie mini and bantam-These are small, with males filling the measurements at 600 g (22 Ozs) or 500 g (18 Ozs) of hens. The standard sized Silkie weighs in at only 3-4 pounds. They can lay anything between 100-120 eggs a year, but they can also stop laying eggs altogether during summer time. The fluff around their tails also might need trimming for breeding and hygiene purposes. Silkie roosters grow spurs just as any male chickens do. Learn how your comment data is processed. White, Black, Partridge, Buff, Grey and Blue are the colors of Silkie chicken recognized for competitive showing. They are very active, tend to be noisy and intolerant of confinement. 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Hens don’t need a rooster in the flock to lay eggs, but they do need a rooster in the flock to lay fertile eggs. Silkies are known for their good temperament and friendly disposition. Silkie Characteristics 1. Just as there are some breeds that are generally aggressive, nervous and high-strung, there are breeds that are generally gentle, easy-going and friendly. silkie rooster temperament. It also means the feathers aren’t waterproof, so when the bird is wet, it looks like it’s waterlogged. The Silkie breed is believed to have originated hundreds of years ago in ancient China. It was named as Silkie chicken because of it’s a typically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. Behavior/Temperament. Adding a New Breed to My Flock Silkies also need to be near fresh and clean water at all times because they can drink up to half-liter of water; keep their water containers filled. Write us at poultrycaresunday(at)gmail{dot}com with any questions or concerns! However, when roosters come to mind, even the silkie rooster temperament can surprise their keeper. Roosters of all types will breed hens, but when picking your best rooster breed, there are a few things to consider. They lay a few cream or tinted colored eggs. Though they are fair layers themselves, laying only about three eggs a week, they are commonly used to hatch eggs from other breeds and bird species due to their broody nature. May 11, 2018 - Are You Worried Your Silkie Cockerel Might Grow Into An Angry Rooster? Which are Bearded and Not-Bearded. Because Silkie chickens are so docile and friendly, this, unfortunately, leads to them being bullied frequently by other breeds. He has a very sweet temperament and enjoys being held. I love poultry like pets or other animals, love talking about them; the real-life experience is always surprising! Another name for the bird is the Chinese Silk Chicken, which shows its Chinese origin. It's actually quite difficult to determine a Silkie's gender than many other breeds, this is especially the case in the chicken's early days. The breed has many unusual qualities like black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. Behavior / Temperament. You clap your hands loudly until you`ve got their attention. They lay a few cream or tinted colored eggs. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. Affiliate Disclaimers | Privacy Silkie chicken is a very unique looking and beautiful bird. Silkie hens are not good layers. Chicken Silkie hens cheerfully brood and raise their unorthodox offspring too, if given the chance. Interactions & Temperament. Pigeon The Silkie is a delicate bird to sex, and this is difficult to determine until they are around 6 months old already. Poultry Job Circular The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. SILKIE ROOSTER Temperament And How To HANDLE It January 4, 2017 March 22, 2017 - 1 Comment Discover Prime Day Savings on Amazon Launchpad It is no … A Frame Chicken Coop Plans Silkie plumage was once unique among chicken breeds, however in recent years silkie feathering has been developed in several breeds, mostly notably the Chabo, where it is now standardised in Britain and the Netherlands. The exact location from where they were developed or found is not known. Size and Weight. Photo from Wikipedia. These include the Crevecoeur, the Sultan, Polish, and Houdan. However, being so popular, they made their way to other countries too, such as Europe and North America. The breed is also known as Silky. However, nevertheless, the origin of the Silkie is not sufficiently ascertained. They are happy go lucky additions to the backyard flock. Sometimes spelled “silky”, the silkie chicken is quite a unique looking chicken! In the American Standard of Perfection, the weight of a hen is 32 oz and the rooster is 36oz. Marco Polo, the explorer commented about a “furry chicken” he had seen on his travels, and it is thought this was the Silkie. Review full breed profile of Silkie chicken below. Temperament Silkie Roosters. They have black skin and bones and 5 toes instead of the normal 4. Privacy Policy Clipping rooster spurs is a fast, effective way to remove the long portion of the spur. These are rather petite birds, with hens weighing about 3 pounds and roosters approximately 4 pounds. eautiful 8 month old silkie rooster available for adoption. Silkie chicken is one of the most popular and beloved ornamental chicken breeds. Before you decide on buying Silkies, get acquainted with their characteristics and needs, so you know what to expect to avoid disappointment. Personalities vary a lot from rooster to rooster. Pallet Chicken Coop Plans What is a Silkie chicken? Sheep, Bee So they are frequently used as foster mothers for other birds. Silkie chicken is very calm, trusting and friendly. Original Silkies were standard sized, shown more in the UK. Blog | Facebook. Quail Barbicels are the hooked projections normally extending from and interlocking the secondary branches of chicken’s feathers. It has an interesting crest. Other chicken breeds which exhibit this rare 5 toe trait include; Faverolles, Dorking and Sultan. your own Pins on Pinterest Colors of the Silkie are blue, black, white, buff, splash, partridge, gray, lavender, red, cuckoo and porcelain. Because of their such plumage, they are unable to fly. Do they interact well with other breads of chickens? American Standard of Perfection calls for roosters that are 1 kg, and hens that are 0.907 kg. Cute manner and fluffy plumage, they are not waterproof they have such sweet personalities they! Varieties are fairly common and a source can be located for hatching eggs or.! 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