Bantam Silkie vs. Standard Silkie-- whats the difference?

[EggSpudition]

I am trying to get a collection of answers to help me decide.

I would like to get another silkie chick-- many sites sell all their silkies as bantams-- some sell them as standards. It all gets very confusing...

Are the standard silkies and bantam silkies the same chicken? I've heard arguments say that the silkies sold in the states are all the same "silkie" but sold as bantams.. wha?

Anyone got silkies-- if so what size were they as chicks (please compare to coins) What size are they now?

Thanks in advance!

Sara

 

[NNYchick]

There is definitely a size and temperament difference between TSC/hatchery and breeder silkie. I first had some that a friend got for me from a farm but now I believe they originally came from TSC stock and at 8 weeks old they were 3 times the size of my 12 week old roo that came from a breeder. They were also mean, they constantly fought with each other and everything else around them. I have heard from at least 3 other people that started out with hatchery silkie that they experienced the same thing. They were definitely nothing like I had read a silkie should be or like my other silkie.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

ALL silkies began as bantams. Largefowl were bred up from hte bantams, and my understanding is that in countries that have them, keeping them large enough is a continual issue.

 

[Chris09]

Here is a UK link that has the standard on it and they have a Large fowl and Bantams. Large Fowl weight at Male 1.8 1kg (4lbs) Female 1.36kg (3lbs) and bantams Male 600g (22ozs) Female 500g (18ozs)..
In the U.S. I beleve we only have the Bantams... I also agree with Sonoran that the silkies began as bantams...
http://www.courtneypoultry.co.uk/id16.html

Chris

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The US standard calls for silkies to weigh:
Cock 36 oz.
Cockerel 32 oz.
Hen 32 oz.
Pullet 28 oz.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Is there a +/- to these weights when being judged? Or this this up to the individual judge?

I've seen some silkies at shows recently that looked HUGE to me and wondered how a few in my flock would measure up in terms of size. Especially the pullets/hens.

Mumbling to self...."I've got to pull out the scale and weigh my girls..."

 

[speckledhen]

To my knowledge, there are no standard Silkies in the United States. All I've ever seen are bantams.

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Quote:
I've heard that standard is what they breed started as, or what they are supposed be be size. LF and standards get confused. That's what I saw once, can't remember the thread.

 

[EggSpudition]

Quote:
Thank you this is such good info. The bantam silkies on the ideal site say the hens will be 34 oz when full grown.. anyone know if thee hatcheries sell them as a referent size?

 

[DuckRaiser]

I wonder if the OP isn't confusing Silkies bred to standard and the actual large fowl.

I would like to know also, I think I'm getting I silkie but I'll be almost mad if it turns out to be just a regular sized hen!

So, is there really a difference between a silkie and a silkie bantam?