My Silkie Chickens are Growing Fast
My Silkie chickens, a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy, satin-like plumage, are growing fast and loving their new coop and outdoor enclosure here at the farm.
Earlier this summer, I incubated and hatched a large group of Silkie eggs from Stonebrook Silkies in Massachusetts. They are first kept in my stable feed room where they can be closely monitored. Once the chicks are big enough, they're moved to another coop nearby where they can have access to the outdoors. And then finally, they're transferred to a large pen where they can run, forage and graze. This breed is very calm and friendly - everyone at the farm loves to stop by and visit with them.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- In June, I purchased more than two dozen eggs from Stonebrook Silkies in Massachusetts. Chicken can ship through the US postal service under certain guidelines. All our eggs arrived safely and quickly.
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- Once they arrive, Helen “candles” each one, meaning she holds each egg against a light, turning it slowly, to observe the embryo inside. Fertilized, growing embryos can be identified by a visible network of blood vessels within the first week after being laid.
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- The eggs are placed into holders that fit in the incubator where they are safe from other birds and closely monitored until they hatch. Chicken eggs take 21-days. While the eggs incubate, they are automatically turned once a day, 45-degrees each way, back and forth during this period.
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- My incubating and hatching equipment is from GQF Manufacturing, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia – a company that specializes in game bird and poultry supplies. There are several crucial conditions needed for proper embryo development in all birds. These factors include: proper temperature, controlled humidity, and sufficient air circulation.
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- By the end of July, the Silkie chicks are hatched, alert, and healthy.
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- Chicks remain in my stable for a few weeks until they are big enough to go to the “nursery” coop.
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- This “nursery” coop just outside the stable is larger and has access to an outdoor space. It was made from a coop I acquired, refurbished, and repurposed from a commercial shoot.
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- And now the birds are in a more permanent yard where they join some older Silkies. Silkies were originally bred in China. They are best known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel silk- or satin-like to the touch. Underneath all that feathering, they also have black skin and bones and five toes instead of the typical four on each foot.
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- There are eight Silkie color varieties accepted by the American Poultry Association. They include black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, splash, and white.
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- Silkies also have black eyes, dark beaks, combs, and wattles.
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- This breed grows a bit slower than other chicken breeds. The combs of Silkie chickens are very dark maroon red. Both male and female chickens have combs, but they’re larger in males. Baby chicks hatch with tiny combs that get larger as they mature.
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- Silkies are also adaptable and playful. And, they are naturally more calm than most other breeds.
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- Here at the farm, there is always plenty of food and lots of fresh water for all my birds – everything is replenished or changed whenever needed.
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- They also have different types of feeders, where they can easily access their food indoors and out. As with all my birds, they also feast on fresh greens and other scraps from my kitchen.
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- Because the Silkie’s feathers lack functioning barbicels, similar to down on other birds, they are unable to fly, but they can stretch and flap their wings.
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- This also means that the feathering is not waterproofed, so they should never get too wet. If they do, they must be dried or they will likely get ill.
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- Here are some of the youngest Silkies at the waterer. Whenever we move babies, we always re-introduce them to the food and water container, so they always know where to find them.
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- Here, one can see this Silkie’s grayish-blue beak, which is short and quite broad at the base.
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- Some characteristics between males and females – female Silkies will keep their bodies more horizontally positioned, while males will stand more upright, keeping their chests forward and their necks elongated. Males will also hold their tail more upright, where females will keep it horizontal or slightly dipped toward the ground.
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- Their bodies should be broad and stout, the back is short, and the breast is full.
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- The head on a Silkie should be crested, looking somewhat like a pompom. The head on this white Silkie is a good example.
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- Silkies weigh anywhere from 1.1 pounds for a female Bantam variety, up to four pounds for a large breed Silkie.
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- In general, chickens are quite vocal. They make around 30 different calls to communicate with each other, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.” While these birds are a bit quieter than others, they still peep and communicate within their flock.
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- It is believed that the Silkie was first mentioned by Marco Polo around 1290 to 1300 during his journey across Europe and the Far East. Although he did not see the bird, it was reported to him by a fellow traveler, and he wrote about it in his journal, describing it as “a furry chicken.” The Silkie chicken made its way westward either by the Silk Road or by the maritime routes, most likely both. Experts accepted the Silkie into the British Poultry Standard of Perfection in 1865 and the American Poultry Association standard in 1874. These beautiful birds make a great addition to my animal family here at Cantitoe Corners.
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