Below: Silkie eggs vary from prcelain white to light brown or even pinkish. If I have to intervene, I help the chick and then put it right back in the hatcher.I leave the chicks in the hatcher for 24 hours. If you get Silkie chickens, here’s something you should know: they can have a difficult time roosting. I have found that it seems to help them get their feet under them and straighten out any curled toes. It has an interesting crest. They are incredibly sweet, gentle birds that make a perfect pet for children. Disclaimer: I am providing information about these hatcheries, but I am not endorsing them. Because Silkies are generally a gentle breed, many roosters are incredibly sweet and loving with people. Below is a young Silkie rooster, singing his first crow. ), Foraging, space, and predator considerations for Silkie chickens (should you confine them or can they free range? Silkies have been kept as pets, show birds, and as incubators. The two chicks turned into two beautiful pullets. Jun 6, 2018 - Explore Becky Taylor's board "Silkies" on Pinterest. So cute! And even when it’s not freezing outside, you will need to keep your Silkies out of the rain. Silkies can also be more susceptible to overgrown toenails and to leg mites than other breeds (thanks to the feathered feet and legs), so you’ll want to keep an eye out for that. I have 2 cabinet incubators and 1 Brinsea 20 that we use only when we have small hatches, like at the beginning of the hatching season to test fertility or end of the breeding season when the egg supply is tailing off.One of the cabinet incubators serves as the incubator for the first 19 days, and the other is only used as a hatcher. Mini Encyclopedia: Chicken Breeds and Care. Not only do their feathers not insulate as well, but if their feathers get wet, Silkies can suffer serious frostbite or even death. This equates to about 3 eggs each week.The eggs are cream to tinted in color, and are small to medium in size.They do start laying earlier in the year than most hens, starting up once the days begin to get longer – occasionally late December but more often early January time.As for their temperament, silkies are known to be calm, friendly and docile – even the boys. This is typically the sound they make when they’re alone and trying to find other chicks or their mama. “The other chickens sit on them and chase them away from the food,” said one chicken keeper who tried to house her Silkies with her other breeds. Different varieties of Silkie chicks can have very different colors and patterns, but they all have feathers on their legs and toes. Sometimes they start pipping on Thursday night and don't make it out until Sunday. WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY ARISING FORM SUCH ERRORS, OMISSIONS, LOST OF DATA, INTERRUPTIONS OR DELAYS OR ANY ONGOING OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY TO OPERATE THIS WEBSITE OR IN THE PROVISION OF ITS SERVICES. Not too old. Each egg weighs about 45 grams. Below is a video of a Silkie house chicken, Penny, who lives a very happy life with a handicapped chihuahua, Roo. And stories abound about Silkie roosters caring for chicks as well. Silkies have their own unique look, so they stand out like a sore thumb. The Silkie (sometimes spelled Silky) is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. Silkies do come with some challenges and require some extra care. However, Silkies do tend to lay into the winter months, unlike many breeds. Typically, Guinea eggs are brown to light brown and speckled with dark brown spots. Silkies weigh about 2-3 pounds and are about the size of a Chihuahua dog. See the section below on Silkie health problems to learn how to trim or tape your Silkies’ head feathers so they can see better. They became the darlings of French society at the time, being loved by the French aristocracy and from then on their future was assured. Five tips to hatching and raising Silkie chickens. If you do have too many predators in your area for your Silkies to roam free, you can always let your Silkies out of their covered run and into your yard with supervision. One keeper said her Silkies huddled together on the floor for over a year, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, decided they were ready to use the roosting bars. “Temperament-wise, you couldn’t ask for a better bird,” said one Silkie chicken keeper. The first known description of Silkie chickens (or their ancestors) is likely this one from Marco Polo. Not to dark but the hens need to feel comfortable. But around 7 weeks the male will start to develop “streamer feathers”. Silkies are tiny chickens and frequently the victims of bullying by larger breeds. When you think of Silkies, you probably think of the bantam size – and according to the American Standard of Perfection, the perfect size for a silkie chicken hen is about 2 pounds. ABOUT AND CONTACT US - webmaster@clucking.net. There is usually a comb present that is a very dark color. Below you can see a video featuring a few of the most popular Silkie varieties—Black, White, and Buff: Silkies have also been bred in many other feather colors and patterns not recognized by the APA or ABA, such as: Aside from their fur-like feathers, Silkies have a number of unusual physical traits, such as: Walnut combs (also called ‘mulberry’ combs), Roosters: 2.25 lbs (36 oz)Hens: 2 lbs (32 oz). They tend to be calm, like to be handled, and can make excellent pets for both adults and children. Guinea fowl eggs aren’t all that different in appearance from chicken eggs. If you are looking for a particular variety of Silkie, check out my article, Silkie chicken hatcheries and breeders. One chicken keeper took a different approach. February 12, 2018 May 12, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies. The scientists analyzed both black Silkie meat and white Plymouth Rock chicken meat. Most birds perform some kind of courtship dance as a prelude to actual mating. Silkies can tolerate some heat, but they can’t tolerate extreme heat. There are chicks of all ages in this pen, and they stay there until it is warm enough to move them outside.This is the method that has worked best for us, but remember that we live in north Yorkshire, England where it rarely gets super cold. I feed medicated chick starter only for the first 2 days and then supplement it with mashed up a hard boiled egg and a couple of drops of olive oil. Is there any truth to these claims? And if you want to see two delightfully spoiled Silkie roosters, Moose and Mumble, check out the video of their “rooster apartment” below. Damerow, Gail. Here is what they look like: A blue chick. In 2006, food scientists from China presented a study at the 232nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society (you can see a summary here). Not a good condition for your hens to be in if they’re not actually going to hatch eggs. Too big or small can present problems. That was in a hedge on a nest of her own choosing rather than one I had prepared. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2017. Much like other roosters, but it’s a little harder to tell with all the fluffy plumage. They don’t fare well against predators. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2016. However, as is the case with all breeds, some roosters may be aggressive, particularly if they’re concerned about protecting their hens. I have found that stable humidity and an undisturbed hatching cycle is more important than the actual value.All the incubating I do is in an insulated outdoor shed that allows me to keep all the incubators and brooders out in the building and out of the house.Eggs are collected daily, marked with the parents' numbers and the date laid - I use a pencil to write on the eggs as it's soft, doesn't wear out and still shows up great at hatch time.The collected eggs are kept in a plastic 30 egg tray, with one side propped up higher than the other. You can always work with aggressive roosters to change their behavior through positive training methods if you’re open to that. Some Silkie keepers have even reported their chickens getting leg injuries from jumping off of high roosts. “Even the roosters are very kind and patient with hens, children, and other pets.”, Another said of her Silkie hen, “She is the biggest snuggle bug I have ever owned. However, Chinese healers prescribe Silkie chicken meat, often eaten in soup, for a number of ailments, including diabetes, anemia, menstrual cramps, and postpartum disorders. Because Silkies have feathers on their legs and feet, shank frostbite is a significant risk. I put them with my lavender rooster, Bradley Cooper, a proven lavender, and waited patiently for fertilized eggs. From well fed parents. Some Silkie chicken keepers have said that their Silkies just took a really long time to learn to roost. The scientists found that the Silkie meat had twice as much of the peptide, carnosine, as did the Plymouth rock meat (0.45 % vs. 0.22%, respectively). ), Silkie temperament (are they right for you and your family? They also graduate to a chick feeder and their waterer is raised on a piece of wood to keep it clean.Their light is provided by 2 suspended 40 / 50 / 60 watt red light bulbs in a ceramic fixture with a metal surround and a protective shield.It is suspended over the brooder so that the chicks learn to go to the heat for sleeping, but can move to a cooler spot if they get too warm or as they feather out.I keep them in this brooder for up to 6 weeks, depending on weather and conditions. To learn more about these breeds, check out my articles: Sultan chickens: Beautiful and exotic pets who require royal treatment, The Cochin Bantam chicken: A sweet-hearted ball of feathers with feet, Polish chickens: Comic relief for the backyard flock. As they love to sit on their eggs quite often, the coop should have adequate nesting boxes that are lovely and spacious and in a draft-free area. If you have predators in your area, a fully enclosed run is a must, including a cover to the run. These eggs are on the small side because silkies are bantams, but they still taste just as good. You may be surprised to learn that Silkies have been valued for their meat for over a millennium. This post contains affiliate links for my favorite products from Amazon. 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. That’s just not that sanitary. They can chill and die or, at the very least, be incredibly uncomfortable. It has an automatic waterer as well as a standard waterer that is raised on wood. Therefore, Silkies don’t do as well in any extreme weather. Truly, the origins of this bird are unclear.There are several anecdotal stories of how it came into Europe. You can even potty train them to use a litter box. Quiet and dark. I set eggs in the incubator once a week and mark the calendar with the total number of eggs set. Silkies can also be very easy to train. Tag: how do silkie chickens fertilize eggs The Mysterious Courtship Dance of Chickens. Be sure to do your own due diligence before purchase. 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. Silkie chickens handle confinement well. About 4-5 birds per 1 nesting box in the coop is a great ratio. Silkies kept with other breeds of chickens can be seriously injured, cannibalized, or even killed. They may run into things and even injure themselves. Yes, they lay eggs that you can eat. And below is a video of a flock of Silkies with taped feather crests that is just too cute not to watch! North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2016. Feeding silkies isn’t particularly hard or expensive, but there are a fe by Helen Chambers for Amber Waves Like all chickens, the best way to a silkie’s heart is through its stomach. They’re a bit smaller and can have a stout-like appearance: pointier on the pointy end than a chicken egg. Their chatty nature is one of the many things that makes them so endearing. You can find some hilarious photos online of Silkies trying to spread their wings over older chicks of other breeds that are just as big as they are. Silkies are poor performers in the egg laying department. The 3 eggs on the left are Silkie eggs and the 2 large eggs in the middle are regular-sized chicken eggs. (The 2 eggs on the right are duck eggs.). So, if you have Silkies, you’ll definitely want to keep them in an insulated coop, and consider using fans or even an air conditioner. Silkies don’t lay a huge amount of eggs but your still going to need a nesting box, which that coop has got. How much meat is one of these little birds? Silkies aren’t prolific layers, and they tend to lay a little later than most other breeds. I prefer to teach them. Below is a video showing one breeder’s criteria for telling males from females at a couple of months of age. But Silkies will eagerly hatch and raise chicks of all breeds and even other species, including pheasants, partridges, and ducks. If you want to help your Silkies learn to roost, go into their coop after dark and put each one on the roosting bars. You will need to take extra measures to keep your coop warm enough for your Silkies, and, most importantly, to ensure that your Silkies are always, always, always dry. They have black skin and bones and 5 toes instead of the normal 4. Leghorns are known for their eggs. Silkies tend to be incredibly sweet and gentle chickens, so you won’t see them being aggressive to others. Dorking: Interpet Publishing, 2011. However, there are a couple of things you can do. This problem is magnified for the bearded and muffed varieties of Silkies. There are 3 different reasons for this: Silkies can’t get onto high roosting bars, Some Silkies are bullied off the roosting bars, The problem with high roosting bars and Silkies. “I think that may be why the one froze to death… they either wouldn’t let her walk up the walk to the roosting shelf where the heat was or she was just too weak.”. If you have 10 minutes to spare and you want your heart melted, check out the video below. Safe from predators and vermin. Towards the end of the video, they seem to be playing together—so cute! Some may get chilled or tipped out of the nest if you put your broody hen on too many eggs. In its most common form, Marek’s disease attacks the nerves, spinal cords, and brains of chickens, resulting in paralysis and tremors. It also seems to really help chicks that aren't thriving.Once in awhile, a chick is just smaller than the rest of the group and doesn't seem as strong. It is an extremely bright light and will even light up dark eggs, like Welsummer and Marans. They do look different though. Silkie chicken eggs are generally a porcelain white to cream colour. The comb and wattles of a Silkie can range from black to mulberry in color and their earlobes are either bright turquoise or mulberry – the former being the preferred coloring. Are Ayam Cemani eggs black? Not very much. What Do Guinea Fowl Eggs Look Like? Silkies’ hair-like feathers don’t have the same insulating properties as regular chicken feathers. “Affected birds eventually die of starvation or are trampled or get severe sores on their body,” say scientists at Penn State University. The Chicken Health Handbook. Buy freshly milled organic chicken feed shipped direct from the fields of the midwest. Rats will take eggs and chicks. Poultry Breeds: Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys: The Pocket Guide to 104 Essential Breeds. Candle before incubating to check. A Chicken that Gives is a Creature that Cares. It should be constructed from a sturdy timber, with a galvanised wire mesh and sturdy locks to keep out unwanted visitors. The first real mention of the… One Silkie chicken keeper told a story of how her month old Silkie hen tried to mother slightly younger chicks. If you put them on medicated starter feed they will most likely need … Below is a video of a Silkie who’s been trained to jump on his keeper’s lap: Silkie chickens tend to be excellent pets for children. You may need to schedule in baths for Silkies as you definitely want their feathers to stay in good condition to maintain good health. Silkie bullying problems on the roosting bars. Some Silkies follow their keepers everywhere. They are calm and put up with (and even enjoy) a lot of handling. Depending on the severity of the misalignment, some cross beaks will require very little interference from you, but others will require significant assistance with eating. Not self blue. I never put my pure bred Silkies on more than 9 eggs. Although many chicken breeds don’t fly well, they can at least fly short distances. The fifth toe grows in an upward direction, and so the birds don’t walk on it like they do their other toes. Silkies are an ancient Asian breed of chicken. These cute features impede their vision even more. 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!. No roosting bars needed (apparently) when you have a chicken keeper to personally pamper you all day. They are even supremely happy to hatch the eggs of other birds. Verhoef, Esther and Rijs, Aad. They are candled In the hatcher, the humidity is kicked up to 70%.My candler is very plain, it is just an old slide projector with cardboard taped over the aperture and cut in a very small circle to concentrate the beam. They can’t flap their wings to cushion the jump, so they end up just plummeting onto the ground. All five were blue. For the same reason, they don't like snow. However, other chicken breeds may be extremely aggressive to your Silkies. First, Silkies are smaller than most chicken breeds and this makes them potential prey to a larger variety of animals. Make sure your roosting bars aren’t too high for your Silkies. The map below shows breeders and hatcheries that sell Silkie chickens. Below, you can see videos of several different varieties of Silkie chicks. However, if you breed those chicks, some of the next generation may have Silkie feathers. What do Silkie chicken eggs look like? And Silkies will definitely need some extra help to keep warm in the cold months. Your Silkies will appreciate a yard or run that gives them plenty of space to explore and to scratch around in. Chicken Breed Information - Silkie Bantam - 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. Most chickens will be curious about Silkies’ strange feathers and won’t be able to help themselves from plucking them out (which can be incredibly painful). Food science researcher, Ying-gang Tian, had this to say about Silkie meat and its role in China: "As a kind of folk invigorant and a source of traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to reinforce body immunity and protect from emaciation and feebleness.". Silkies are really cute little fluffy chickens, very docile in nature and do not make a mess of your garden. Silkie chickens certainly don’t look like your average chicken due to their lack of feathers. As romantic as this might seem, it is highly unlikely to be true. Below you can see a video of 5-week old Silkie chickens. 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Needed ( apparently ) when you purchase through links on OUR site, I earn from qualifying purchases no..., and thus will likely require trimming a litter box differ from all other breeds. Already have their own health and wellness they will most likely need … what do Guinea Fowl eggs like. Always work with aggressive roosters to change their behavior through positive training methods if you put broody. Bright light and will even light up dark eggs, like to what! Breeder ’ s any number of animals how much meat is one of these little birds for! To 104 Essential breeds the origins of this bird are unclear.There are several anecdotal stories of how her old... Chilled or tipped out of the video, they can have a secret and they don’t want to handled. Ll start jumping up there themselves, pointy saddle and hackle feathers chicken that Gives them plenty of space Explore... Are smaller than most other breeds and loving with people breedsCoops and runsChicken careChicken behavior, and. 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