Silkies are a wonderful breed of chicken. They are friendly love to sit on laps and are a pure joy. I've noticed silkies are actually quieter than most chickens. They have a pleasant little song. when upset can they become loud which is very rare. Silkies do have feathers but the feather do not have quills giving them the soft appearance and feel of fur. In old times people believed they were crossed with rabbits which of course is no true. In my opinion silkies are the best pet chicken for showing and for a pet. Their unique look make them different than a regular chicken. In fact they ARE different. The silkie has black skin and black bones. Also the true silkie or show quality silkie has Five toes! While other chickens have four. Silkies are even feathered down the legs to the feet. Giving them an even more unique look. Silkies are considered a bantam. Meaning they are smaller than a regular chicken. A great club to join if you like silkies is the American bantam silkie club. And if you will be showing your silkie its best to buy them from a breeder. Sadly hatchery silkies look different than breeder silkies and usually can not be shown because they do not meet the standard of perfection set fourth for the breed in showing. If your showing grab a copy The Standard of Perfection/2010 version. I'm not sure if they have a newer standard but 2010 will work. It clearly defines what the bird should look like and with each color group. they are scored on points according to the standard. There are immediate disqualifications in showing silkies such as less than five toes or not having black skin because these things indicate the bird is a cross bread and not a pure silkie. So when buying your silkie I think its best to purchase your bird from a reputable dealer. You might pay a bit more but usually will get a better quality silkie. You can join the American bantam silkie club and you will receive a book of quality breeders. Usually you can get a good show quality silkie for 150.dollars. Chicks around 50. Dollars. As opposed to pet quality which is around 3. Dollars a chick and 10. A older bird. So it just depends on which you want. If your show you'll want the better quality. If only for a pet then pet quality or hatchery quality is fine. Either way silkies are make the most wonderful pets and bring great joy to your life. Here is a picture of a blue silkie
Colors recognized by the standard are white blue partridge black buff and splash. I highly recommend a silkie for a family pet! Silkies lay light brown eggs. What other pet can make you breakfast of eggs?silkies are a great joy. they are my favorite type of chicken.
