Jan 25, 2013

Chicken Day Meet the Silkies

The Silkie (sometimes alternatively spelled Silky) is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as dark blue flesh and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. They are often exhibited in poultry shows, and exist in several colors including red, buff, blue, grey, black, white, and many mottled variations.
In addition to their distinctive physical characteristics, Silkies are well known for their calm, friendly temperament. Among the most docile of poultry, Silkies are considered an ideal pet. Hens are also exceptionally broody, and make good mothers. Though they are fair layers themselves, laying about three eggs a week, they are commonly used to hatch eggs from other breeds and bird species. Silkies come in both a full-sized and diminutive forms, the latter being typically known as Silkie Bantams.

Zorro Rooster on left, Fluffy Partridge (born to Patty March 19,2012) Post about birth HERE middle and on right Suki White Silkie Rooster (born 2010) & king of this pen.
 With the exception of Suki I hatched him from another source
Patty, Zorro and Precious were bought from 
 
Susanne Blumer of Huckleberry Farm here is South Carolina.  
She also ships hatching eggs so keep her in mind for your poultry needs.

I love the fact that Silkies are very broody and loving mothers. That works pretty well when you want to hatch some of your own fertilized eggs from other breeds you may have or want.

For awhile now I have wanted another breed of chicken an Araucana.
 

 I found some eggs from a breeder for a
Lavender Araucana
 photo credit
 Hinkjc Mountain Poultry Facebook Page

 I have the two Silkies that are broody at the moment and Hinkjc Poultry were kind enough to sell me only a few eggs.

Patty Partridge (born March 19, 2011
She is a very broody hen and I am thankful because I have her now sitting on the 4 eggs below
well with the exception of that small silkie white egg, I did remove that one....my luck I would hatch another rooster....
 


Elvira Precious's child is broody too so I put her on 3 eggs
She is a very young hen

I don't know what she is doing to those eggs they are getting very dirty...
I can't wait to see what hatches with luck that is...
Both of the hens have at one point or another decided to push the eggs out then proceeded to go back and set on them so who knows what the hatch rate will be....I figured it was worth a try since I am not at home now enough to incubate and watch myself.
I'll keep you posted as to what if any hatch....


The Silkie Breed is so delightful. If you are someone who might think the idea of raising chickens is not your cup of tea, you might consider having some of this breed.  They are tiny, adorable and fairly clean as far a chickens go. Their eggs equal in size to about half a regular egg so you would use two to one ratio but even they are adorable.  This breed is more like a pet and you can build a very cute home for them....a very fun pet with the added bonus of eggs....


I apologize for the poor quality of these two pictures but just wanted to share how they gather and how cute they are. 


A gathering of minds, male minds.  Just like men at a country store in front of a pot bellied stove...or standing in front of the water fountain...
Suki, Guinea Guinea, Spot the Barred Rock and JR the Americana ~ I wonder just what they are thinking...and talking about....
Suki is always getting into whatever is going on.  He has to be on top of things, that is for sure. Look at those funny top feathers...

Thank you God for this and everyday!
Happy Chicken Day to you all!

Dolly 

Linking to these fine blog hop parties:
The Clever Chick   

5 comments:

  1. How cute! I love silkies and they are on my chicken wish list :) Mainly for their broodiness, so we can hatch out some of our own eggs since we don't have an incubator. Good luck with your hatch!

    I love that photo with the guinea and all the chickens!

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  2. Very pretty! Silkies are my favorite of all the breeds we have. They're so cute and fluffy.

    ~L

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  3. What handsome little guys you have Dolly. I was amazed by how sweet the two little silkie roosters I rescued from the feed store pen are to me and my gals. They let me pet and hold them and one of them would sit in my lap almost from the first week we got him. They are terrors to my big barred rock roo Queenie though so they have to be separated. They are like little kung fu masters when they get near him. Scary stuff. It's great that your guys all get along so well.

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  4. Thanks for the shout out! Love your birds!!!

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  5. Very pretty! My husband would like to get a couple of fancy ones. These are cute.

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