Silkie Red By Gallatea

Posted 01/11/12 • Last updated 01/11/12 • 995 views • 1 comment

Silkie
Red Created by gallatea

Breed Information, Comments, and Experience with breed:

I acquired 1 Silkie chicken on April 4, 2010. He/she is now almost a month old and I will continue to update with photos. So far my research has found that Silkies originate from Asia. They have been around since the 1300's, the time of Marco Polo. Appearance-wise they can be bearded or not. They all should have a crest and most should have 5 toes, unique to this breed. They have a gene that produces the blue-black skin (melanin) and a bluish black beak and combs (also mulberry). They can have turquoise earlobes. Their meat is dark also and they are considered a delicacy in some cuisines such as French, Chinese & Korean. They are also considered a source of folk medicine (chicken soup, literally). Behaviorally, they are considered docile and easy to keep in confinement, but are not highly tolerant of high heat or extreme cold, as their feathers do not resist one or keep in the other. They are popular as pets and lay up to 3 eggs a week that are lightly tinted. They can be broody and often foster other chicks. They make good mothers. They were fist admitted to the APA in 1874. Personal experience so far: She/he is very docile so is living up to the reputation. Mine is named Appa and she/he is very sweet with my other two chickens, Frizzles (all the same age). My Silkie is at the bottom of the pecking order. But this seems to serve her well - no one picks on her/him and she/he doesn't pick on anyone else. I can't wait to find out if I have a rooster or a hen! It's driving me crazy. I did find out tonight she/he is indeed a "red" in color and the photos I've seen of red adults are stunning, so am very excited!

Gender	Age	Thumb	Description / Information
Male	5		Can't believe she/he was ever this tiny.
Male	5		She/he loved the warmth of my tea cup.
Male	8		First to sprout some tail feathers.
Male	10		Banding on her/his wings is more apparent.
Male	13		Feathers getting a little crazy and crest coming out.
Male	13		Getting weighed.
Male	29		4 weeks old and still growing!