![]() Most hatcheries price their Silkies for $3-15 per chick and $25-50 for a full grown, laying hen. The good news is, they’re available at almost all hatcheries across the United States. So, if you’re here, you’re probably interested in getting a silkie or five of your own! Please include attribution to with this graphic. It was in 1872 that the APA welcomed them into the American Standard of Perfection, and they’ve become a beautiful addition to coops ever since! Once arriving in Western Europe and the Americas, many realized that Silkies would make excellent pets, as well as mothers to hatched chicks. This led to them being involved in some circus shows, with them regularly being mistakenly identified as half-chicken, half-mammal. Silkie’s were often a big part of scams in trading, with some deceptive traders claiming that the breed was half-rabbit, half-chicken. The original Silk Route ended in modern-day Iraq, which allowed Silkies to spread from there to the Balkans, and then further into Western Europe and eventually the Americas. ![]() It was around 4,000 miles in length, and had major significance in economic, political and religious matters during its existence.īut, most importantly, it gave us the Silkie! While he never saw one (as far as we know), the breed was explained to him as a “furry chicken,” which was the phrase he recorded in his diary.įrom China, it is widely thought that the Silkie chicken travelled west through the Silk Route, which was a trade route that began in Asia and ran to the Mediterranean. Marco Polo was the first explorer to note the existence of the Silkie - around 1290-1300. This is because of their black bones and skin, which in some areas is thought to make their meat medicinal. ![]() The Silkie is also known as the Chinese Silk Chicken, and its Chinese name literally translates to “black-boned.” Silkie chickens are old-timers! It is thought that they originated as far back as 200 BC during the Han Dynasty. Self-blue is a lighter version of the grey silkie, and can also look (and be referred to as) lavender in some cases. Silkies come in a variety of colors, with the White variety being the one you’ve likely seen the most of.ĭespite White being the most popular color for Silkies, the American Poultry Association (APA) actually recognizes eight different color varieties. Silkies are larger in Europe than their American counterparts, sometimes growing as hens to 3 lb., and are considered “large fowl” there, as opposed to “bantams” in the U.S. SizeĪdult Silkie chickens generally weigh between 1.5 and 2 lb. Their beaks will be short, and in many cases a beautiful blue color. Silkie eyes will always be jet black, while their comb looks like a walnut, and often as black as their eyes. This is because of their plump body, as well as their legs being quite short.Ī Silkie’s head is often referred to as a “pom-pom,” and many have noted the similarities between the head of a Silkie and the head of a Polish Hen. Their feet are set apart wider than most other breeds, which is for stability. It can also resemble silk - hence - the Silkie chicken.Ī Silkie’s feathers go all the way down their legs and often cover their feet, which makes for quite a sight when they run around the yard. These feathers appear like fur, and feel like it too in most cases. Their bodies are quite stout, while their chests are puffed out, made even more obvious by their extremely fluffy feathers. You definitely won’t be mistaking your Silkies for your Easter Eggers! The Silkie chicken is probably the most unique looking chicken you can have in your flock.
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