Silkie Bantams are a miniature sized chicken known for their nearly black skin, hair like feathering and fifth toe. Silkies have a unique, fluffy plumage. Silkie Bantams are very friendly, good mothers and one of the most popular breeds at poultry shows. Silkies are awesome broody hens. Silkie feathers lack barbicels so their feathers are similar to down.
American Poultry Association Class: Featherleg Bantam
ALBC Conservation Status:
Production: Silkie meat and bones are dark blue and are considered unpalatable in the US and Europe but considered a delicacy in Asia.
Standard Weights Old Male 36 oz. Old Female 32 oz. Young Male 32 oz. Young Female 28 oz.
History: Silkies may have originated in China but India and Java have been also suggested. Marco Polo mentioned chickens with fur-like plumage in his Asian travel diary. Ulisse Aldrovandi also mentioned Silkies. Dutch breeders sold Silkies as being crosses between rabbits and chickens. Sideshows have said Silkies actually have mammal fur. The American Silkie Bantam Club was established in 1923 and reorganized in 1931. American Silkie Bantam Club Membership Benefits: Quarterly Newsletters about Silkies, Annual Silkie Breeders Directory, & access to the website's member's area which includes: access to silkie classifieds, member forum, live chats, silkie club member directory, immediate access to quarterly newsletters, and email updates about silkies. The American Silkie Bantam club is an awesome silkie bantam club
Our Silkie bantam breeder from February til August carries only Bearded Silkies.
References: Bantam Chickens by Fred Jeffery, Bantam Standard of Perfection by American Bantam Association, Bantams Intriguing Miniatures by John Skinner, APA Standard of Perfection by American Poultry Association
