Silkie Chickens

Breed Rating (71 Reviews)

Appearance
Friendliness
Hardiness
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Garden

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Silkie History

The origin of the Silkie hen is uncertain although they have been around for several hundred years. It is thought that they originated in India, China or Japan and they arrived in Europe around 200 years ago where they were sold as crosses between rabbits and chickens! They are a lightweight chicken with a broad, stout looking body which is covered in fine fluffy feathers. They have short, rather ragged looking tails and the head is short and neat with an upright and full crest. The beak is short and broad, the face smooth and the eyes black and bright. The comb is circular and described as a mulberry comb and the wattles are concave, semi circular and not particularly long. The legs are purplish blue in colour and they have a fifth toe.

Silkie Behaviour

Silkies do tend towards broodiness and make wonderful mothers despite being rather poor layers. They are calm, friendly, trusting and rather lively birds which are unable to fly so can be kept with very low fencing and they also do very little damage to the garden. They begin laying around Christmas when the hen will happily sit on a clutch of eggs and will still go broody even if her eggs are removed! Silkies are frequently used as foster mothers for other hen's eggs. They stop laying altogether during the summer months. They don't have waterproof feathers so they need to be kept in dry conditions but require little room so can be kept in smaller runs. They are rather susceptible to scaly leg but are robust little chickens and can withstand the cold very well. The black skinned and black boned silkie is considered a delicacy in China where they believe that the ground up bones have special healing properties. They have a lifespan of around 9 years and can be tamed and considered a real pet which makes them especially suitable for children.

Silkie Varieties

Black, blue, gold, white, partridge, triple laced partridge, triple laced silver partridge, grey, cuckoo, red and buff.

Silkie Pictures

A group of Silkie chickens in the garden.

A white silkie chicken with beautiful feathers.

three silkie chickens mini blue bearded silkies on a lawn

A silkie chicken hiding in a vegatable patch.

four small silkie white chicks sat on a bed of hay

a white and grey silkie chicken in the snow

Silkie For Sale

Please note: All animals listed here are for collection only. They cannot be delivered by the seller or by Omlet. The seller will send you their contact details to arrange payment and collection.

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Latest Reviews For Silkie (5 of 71)

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Based on 71 Verified Reviews

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Silkie's eggs are under estimated. - Gill, 28 January 2025

Silkie's eggs may not be very big and they are not the most prolific layers but you will not find a better quality egg. They have the same size yolk which is rich and has a far superior taste.

Silkies are the best - Heidi, South Glos, 2 May 2019

We’ve had a few different breeds but silkies are undoubtedly my favourite.. my dad wanted chickens again after we lost our last hens a few years ago so I surprised him with 2 silkie hens.. Egwina and Bailey.. they are so funny and are very interested in everything you’re doing. Since then we’ve had a few more silkies and they’ve never been any trouble! Great with the dogs and kids aswell as being great sitters on their eggs.

I like chickens - Lucy, 6 March 2019

I really love chickens especially mini alpacas

Silkies - Ellie, 28 March 2016

Silkies are very friendly and great with kids, they look so cute and funny, but their feathers are not waterproof as with other breeds, so need adequate shelter from rain.

Got given a silkie cockerel &3hens - Andrea, 22 November 2014

The funniest chickens ever love them to bits, been reading msg's about them & am very surprised my hens are laying most days ! Thinking I may have a go at hatching some as Mr silkie keeping very active !

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Breeder Clubs for Silkie

Silkie Club

Email: thesecretary@thesilkieclub.co.uk

Website: www.thesilkieclubofgreatbritain.co.uk