Chickens - Raising Small Animals - page 42

Silkies
These birds originated in China and Japan and arrived in America in the 1800s. Their feathers
do not have the barbicels that hold a normal feather together, which gives the birds the illu-
sion they are fluffy. Their feathers are similar in texture to fur and are not like the smooth
feathers other chickens have. They typically have a topknot, which is a poof of feathers on
top of their head, or their faces can be completely covered with feathers, similar to a shaggy
dog. Silkies come in a variety of colors: red, buff, white, black, splash (a chicken that is one
color with a splash of another color highlighted typically on its head and back), cuckoo
(barred or striped with another color such as black and white), and lavender, with blue/black
skin and black bones. Their earlobes are blue or turquoise, and their eyes are brown or black.
The comb is the fleshy growth on top of a chicken's head. It is a thin piece of skin that comes
in different shapes and is either red or purple. Some chickens have thicker combs. Silkies
have walnut-shaped combs that should be wider than they are long. Some Silkies have pea
combs , which are low combs with three ridges, or a thin single comb that is thin, attaches to
the beak along the skull with five or six grooves, and stands up. This type of comb probably
would be disqualified from a show because it is not the ideal comb for a pure breed. Whereas
most chickens have four toes, silkies have five, which adds to their uniqueness.
Male bantam Silkies weigh approximately 36 ounces. A bantam is a miniature version of a
full-sized chicken, usually about one-fourth the size. The female bantam weighs about 32
ounces. The weight of standard-sized Silkies is about 6 pounds for the male and 5 for the fe-
male. These birds are not proficient egg layers and lay only 50 to 120 eggs per year. Their
eggs are a dark cream to brown color.
Silkies are a docile breed, which makes them a great choice for novices. They also make won-
derful pets. Because their feathers are not webbed, they cannot fly. Silkies, like all chickens,
require a protective coop to keep them safe from predators. Hens and roosters of this breed are
known for their parenting skills. The roosters often call to the chicks when food is found,
which, with other breeds, is usually the hen's responsibility.
Showgirls
Showgirls are a crossbreed between Silkies and the naked neck Turken. It is an ornamental
breed that looks like a miniature version of an ostrich. They come in a bantam size. These