Silkies!

[Verinda]

Well I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw these...um chickens? Does anyone have them?

We Just Found Your New Dream Pet. It's A Chicken.

[Gema13]

they are great hens. Small in size, lay the least from most breeds and usually come in black or white. I really want some of these hens but they are not too hardy and can require an indoor heated house in winter. Since we are in Scotland I don't think they would do so well.

[Guest]

When I first discovered the world of chickens I thought they were great. However I quickly went off them as every man and their dog seemed to have them and maybe some pekins and polish to keep them company. I would still love some cochins tho, one day when I am prepared to really fuss chickens ( with their big fluffy legs).

[veggiechicken]

One day, a neighbour phoned me - "There's a chicken by the roadside in the woods. I thought I'd tell you as you have chickens. Oh and, its a white one"
So off I go to play hunt the chicken. Took me 2 days to gain its confidence enough to catch it and bring it home. I'd never seen a Silkie before - it was like a cotton wool ball. It had obviously been dumped as near it was a cardboard box with droppings.
A week later I found out why - it started to crow
I had him for a year or so until a fox took him Great shame as he was quite a character.
Oddly he had black skin but white feathers

[skeggijon]

We have a white one, although all of our banties feathers suggest a bit of silkie in them

[Zelenina]

I never had a pure silkie, but I had a silkie cross once. She looked much like a normal hen with normal feathers, but with a little crest on her head. Silkie crosses make the best broodies for hatching eggs.

[Verinda]

Oh how interesting and I've never heard of them before. I don't think I could ever manage a heated hen house but they do look amazing and sound like real characters, it would be fun to have a few.

It's snowing here tonight and I am worrying about my hens they are old and spent most of their lives in a stuffy barn so not used to such cold. I'm sure they'll be fine though, I hope.

[Verinda]

VC, when you acquired your silkie, did you have to keep him warm at night? Just wondering in case I ever get a few!

[Guest]

Sorry I am not VC but I have never known anyone to provide fancies extra heat and they are fine. The main thing to watch for is wet and mud as it collects on the feathers on their feet and legs. Also fancies don't tend to lay so well. If you like silkies you might also want to check frizzles.

https://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/chickens/frizzle/

[Verinda]

Oh dear, I don't think they'd like my hen run at the moment as it's really muddy, pity, it would be lovely to see them pottering around the house.

Thank you for the link Ng

[skeggijon]

We don't provide any extra heat. Our silkie seems to lay pretty well - still laying about 4 or 5 times a week even at this time of year.

[Verinda]

I don't mind so much about the laying, to me eggs are a bonus I just love the look of them, but I think it would be too wet and muddy in our west of Ireland climate.

[Doive]

Our silkies are all together in a small house with a couple of pekins. They are quite happy, and I had heard they were fairly cold hardy. We have a pair of cockerels, kept separate, and they are as loud as any full sized roo! Two little characters, I wouldn't be without them.

Sad to hear that someone had abandoned one in the woods, irresponsible animal husbandry. People like that don't deserve to keep animals. Glad you took him on, they can be very rewarding little creatures to keep.

Frizzles are somewhat more delicate. We have one that has become a house chicken, she was born very late last year, and was too small to survive the winter... we caught her from the breeder just in time, nursed her back to health, and she's sitting on my shoulder as I type! Very friendly and hand tame.

[richie_f82]

silkies

Hi all,

My wife and I have 3 silkies (2 black and 1 yellow). We don't give them any extra heat in winter and they seem to have been fine for the last 3 years. They are shacked up with 3 Hamburgs which we got all 6 from eggs so they are well used to each other.

The issue of mud can be a problem here in Middlesbrough as the soil is nearly pure clay, but keeping sharp sand on the floor of their run helps with this as it allows water to drain but keeps the mud below it. It also allows them to have a dust bath when its dry!!

Both sets of hens are not great layers, but fun to watch and have around the garden, and in summer they help get rid of the grass clippings!!