2/29/2024 0 Comments Male silkie chicken![]() Besides their black skin and distinctive plumage, silkies are unique in that they have five toes (a trait called polydactyly, in which an animal has an extra finger). Their bodies are short with broad shoulders. Non-bearded silkies have faces that are much more visible, as the earlobes and wattle are not covered. Bearded silkies have a muff of feathers extending from their earlobes and heavily covering the bird’s neck, leaving only their beak poking out. Silkies are either bearded or non-bearded. Their earlobes are a striking turquoise blue. The rooster has a more prominent comb than the female. Their combs are black, circular in shape, evenly set on their heads, and furrowed, like a walnut. The eyes of silkies are covered by their head feathers, and when revealed, are completely black. The heads of show silkies are short and topped with a pompom. Silkies come in a rainbow of colors, including black, blue, gold, partridge, and white. In the US and Canada, silkies are only considered to be bantam. Show breeders take great pride in their silkies, and for good reason–these birds are stunning! There are two main varieties of silkie: bearded and non-bearded, and these can be bantam-sized or large. Temperament: Affectionate, loving, docile.Breed Type: Exhibition, ornamental, and companion birds. ![]() Breed Name: Silkie (or Chinese silk chicken).They certainly were novelties– some early Dutch chicken farmers claimed that they were mixed with rabbits! The silkie was recognized as an official breed in North America in 1874. Silkie chickens made their way to Europe by the mid-1800s. Marco Polo even wrote about silkies during his travels to Asia in the late 1200s, describing them as “fowl which have no feathers, but only hair, like a cat’s fur”. ![]() Most historians believe that they originated in China, although accounts of similar chickens exist in both India and Indonesia. Silkie chickens have a place in the history books, and they’ve been around a very long time.
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