Reviews by Puppis

We had some silkies and they were the cutest things. As chicks they were the first to spot anything edible making them great foragers. They were bright and inquisitive. I know people can spend time with them and make them very good pets.

Also, I bought some after hatching a mixed group of chicks. The purchased silkies were so kind and mothering to the younger mixed breed chicks - both male and female were mothering. They really looked after the younger birds.

I've heard (and agree with) having a flock of silkies is like having a "flock of kittens". Their feathers are more like long fur. Their bright blue earlobes are so pretty.

I know they go broody which some people like but it could be a con.

The eggs are smaller but I didn't mind that. The silkies weren't the main birds in my flock, they were for fun.

My nieces loved them, they want me to get more but they cannot fly as well as other chickens due to the fluffy feathers they have and therefore cannot escape predators as well as other breeds. We free range our chickens with no fencing and the silkies didn't last long. So as much as I'd love to have them again, I won't for their sake. If I ever have a large safe chicken yard that is fenced with roof netting I'll try them again.

My uncle's sister had a white one named Pearl that she had for years and hers are free range birds. But she has other farm animals that probably help keep predators at bay. I've heard livestock can really help keep your birds safe.

I bought some Welsummer hatching eggs but only one hatched (I was too impatient three years ago and kept candling the eggs) and of course it was a rooster.

That summer I hatched many roosters and most were purebreds (large variety) and I hated to give them up but slowly did. I kept the Welsummer because he was always bullied and had to stay away from the main flock all day long. Once he was the head rooster he "came into his own" got on very well with everyone.

He was a good "watch dog", alerting the hens to danger when ever necessary. He managed to live here three years and no predators got him - my second oldest chicken to date. We lose many chickens every year.

He is good with hens, not a pain in butt jumping on them all day long. He helps them forage well.

I just gave him away three weeks ago to a family with children and hens because I had too many of his offspring and I need to hatch eggs every year to replenish my flock. But I have some lovely mixed hens that are his offspring that lay very nice dark speckled eggs. I miss seeing him but he has a safer home now.