Silkies are different from any other kind of chickens. They look like they have fur! Marco Polo saw these in China centuries ago and was baffled by the furry chickens. Their feathers don't have a solid core, so the feathers don't stick together, making them look like they have hair. Another difference can be found on their feet--they have an extra "thumb" toe! Their skin, bones, and meat is black! In China, they are a delicacy and it is believed they have medicinal powers (they don't have anything different than regular chickens, only their insides are black). Last Friday, we got black and white silkies. We got one rooster and two hens of each color. Here are a bunch of their feet. The bottom-most picture shows how they perch. Because they have two 'thumbs', they can't grip quite as tight--the muscles for both of these toes is really just one set that is divided between two, so it's not as strong. This is a collection of the roosters' and hens' heads. As you can see, the two roosters' combs are not very pretty. But, this is how they should be. The hens may not have a comb, or may have a small one, as you can see by these ladies. Did you notice anything different about their earlobes? They are blue! You can see how the neck feathers look like fur! Because the feathers don't stick together, silkies are not 'water resistant', meaning they will get soaked in the rain. If that happens, you'll have to dry them off to prevent hypothermia. Despite all the feathers that are like fur, they do have flight feathers, but they can't really fly.
Silkies are called 'the lapdogs of the chicken world' because they are so docile and loving. As you can see by the white rooster, he laid in my hand with no problems. Many people who have these chickens can go outside, sit down, and have a silkie in their lap! These make great mothers! They will hatch any egg and raise the baby, even if it's not a chicken. Some have raised turkey, ducks, and even geese!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Just two brothers
Nanners & Mashers are brothers who just want to share their birds with the world. Archives
April 2016
|