Silkies

Silkies are a unique breed of chicken, thought to have originated in China or Southeast Asia.

The first recorded history of Silkies occurs in Marco Polo’s writings about his travels to Asia in the 13th century, in which he describes chickens with fur-like plumage and black skin.

Silkies were admitted into the Standard of Perfection in 1874.

Qualities of the Silkie

There are a lot of things to like about the Silkie.

• Broodiness – One of the main characteristics that Silkies are known for is broodiness. Silkie hens have a strong tendency to go broody, and they make excellent mothers.
• Temperament – Silkies have a wonderful temperament.  They are calm, gentle, and docile.  They are easy to raise and get along well with children.  They quickly get used to being handled by people.
• Excellent Pets – Silkies make excellent pets.  Their unique appearance and behavior add to the enjoyment of watching them.
• Tolerate confinement well – Silkies tolerate confinement well.  Because of the nature of their feathers, they tend to not fly out of fences easily, so it is easier to keep them contained than some of the flightier breeds.