Regular trimming of the nails is recommended use strong scissors and file the nails smooth, as often as necessary. It is not uncommon for breeders to trim the ‘undercarriage’ of their broody hens as knotted feather strands can strangle chicks. Silkies don’t require much extra care compared to other varieties of fowl. Silkies have an average lifespan of 8 to 9 years. Scaly leg, caused by a mite which burrows under the skin, is best treated with an appropriate worming product. Silkies, their pens and nest boxes can be treated for lice each month during the warmer seasons and every two months during the cooler seasons with a proprietary de-lousing product such as Coopex® powder or solution. All birds should be checked regularly for lice and should have access to a dust bath. Broody hens (those sitting on eggs) will become most susceptible due to the bird’s propensity to remain with the brood and not preen or bath itself. The warmer seasons usually bring with them a greater incidence of lice infestation. Combine this with their curious, delicate appearance and one can see why this bird is often an appealing choice for the novice or child. The birds can be tamed and are often regarded by their owners as a real pet. Silkies are one of the most compliant and docile animals ever born and despite their soft delicate appearance are reasonably robust. In addition to the standard Silkie, breeders have developed the bantam Silkie, which was shown in Australia for the first time at the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2000. Smaller varieties of chicken (called bantams) like the Pekin bantam can weigh as little as 500g whilst larger birds such as the Dorking may weigh around 6kg. Standard Silkies are mid-sized chickens and weigh around 1.5kg to 2kg. Silkies differ from other fowls in that they have dark flesh and five toes. Striking blue coloured lobes also adorn the ears. A Silkie’s comb (called a rose or cushion comb) resembles a wart-like lump on the bird’s forehead (see pic) rather than the spiky appendage one would normally imagine. However the comb doesn’t look like what you might see on other types of fowl. The cock’s comb is much, much larger than the hens. Bearded Silkies, both male and female, have very small wattles (around 5mm long) and as the name suggests, a full, fluffy beard puffs up around the face.īoth bearded and non-bearded Silkies have a feathery crest, like a powder puff, and a fleshy comb on top of the head. However the hen’s wattles are much smaller than the cock’s. Non-bearded silkies have large wattles (a fleshy appendage) about 25mm-40mm long below the beak. The Chinese Silkie is available in two types, bearded and non-bearded, and differences are also apparent between males (cocks) and females (hens). Each of these strands are approximately 50mm to 75mm long and give the bird a soft and, well, silky appearance. The Silkie’s feathers lack barbs which would otherwise hold the strands together, thus the individual strands sit free of each other. This soft, hairy-feathered fowl looks unlike most other poultry. It only takes one look at this chicken to see how it got its name. Amongst his many other exploits, Marco Polo is believed to have introduced this bird to the western world sometime between 12. Ideal owner: great for kids, novices and fowl enthusiasts HistoryĬhinese Silkies are believed to have originated in Asia, although despite the name, it is unclear whether it was in China, Japan or India.
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