No bird in the backyard gets more double takes than a Silkie. With plumage that feels more like fur than feathers and a calm, cuddly nature, Silkies have a devoted following among families and hatchers alike. They are also a little different to care for, so it pays to know what you are getting.
A bit of history
Silkies come from Asia, most likely China, and accounts of fluffy, fur-like chickens there go back centuries. Marco Polo is often credited with one of the earliest European descriptions. The breed reached the West by the 1800s and has been a favorite ever since.
What makes them unusual
- Feathers: Silkie feathers lack the tiny hooks that hold a normal feather together, so they stay loose and soft. The tradeoff is that Silkies cannot fly and their feathers are not waterproof.
- Black skin and bones: under all that fluff, Silkies have dark blue-black skin, bones and comb, a trait called fibromelanosis.
- Five toes: most chickens have four toes; Silkies have five, with feathered feet.
- Blue earlobes, a walnut comb, and a puffy crest that can partly cover their eyes.
- Size: small birds, often only 2 to 4 lb. In the US they are shown as bantams.
Temperament
Silkies are famously docile. Most tolerate handling well, which is why they are such a common first bird for kids. That gentle nature also means they can be picked on by bigger, pushier breeds, so watch the pecking order in a mixed flock.
Broodiness
If there is one thing Silkies are known for, it is going broody. Many hens will sit on almost anything, and keepers often use them to hatch eggs from other hens, or even ducks. If you want chicks, a Silkie is a gift. If you only want eggs, be ready to break a broody now and then.
Eggs
Silkies lay small cream to lightly tinted eggs, often two or three a week when they are laying, which works out to roughly 100 or so a year. Broody spells will cut into that.
Care tips
- Keep them dry. Since their feathers do not shed water, give them covered run space and a dry coop. A soaked Silkie in cold weather can chill quickly.
- Mind the crest. A heavy crest can block their vision and make them easier to startle. A light trim around the eyes helps.
- Low perches. They cannot fly up to high roosts, so keep perches and nest boxes low.
- Check for mites and lice. Dense fluff and feathered feet make good hiding spots, so inspect them regularly.
Quick facts
- Origin: Asia, likely China
- Egg color: cream to lightly tinted, small
- Temperament: very calm, easy to handle
- Climate: handles cold if kept dry; needs shelter from rain
- Best for: families, small yards, hatching eggs
Laying rates and sizes vary by line, diet and conditions. Treat these as typical ranges, not promises.
See the Silkie collection, or start with the Silkie Heritage Tee.