Fast Facts:

Silkie Chicken

Special Features

The feather colors recognized by the American Poultry Association are white, black, blue, partridge, buff, gray. The texture of their feathers is fur- or silk-like in appearance. The feathers have a quill that grows from under the skin; they have modified webs and adhesion of the barbs, which results in the silky appearance of the feathers.

Topknots or crests on their heads and feathers that grow down the leg. The skin of the chicken is a pigmented black, or dark slate blue. The combs are walnut colored. Tail feathers are short and shredded at the ends. There are 5 toes rather than the usual four on the feet.

Breeding & Care of Young

They are unequalled for their broodiness and can be used to set on the eggs of any fowl. Some breeders of pheasants and quail use Silkie hens to hatch the wild fowl's eggs rather than use an incubator. Silkie fathers often help care for the young also.

Once they are on their nest, the Silkie hen will not be deterred until the eggs are hatched. In fact, because they are so inclined to sit on nests and incubate eggs, they are not prolific layers because the hens do not lay eggs while in the broody cycle.