Are Silkies Mean?

[Creteloc]

The only reason I ask this is because I can't find an answer... and the last 3 people I've told that I'm looking to get 3 silkies have all told me that I'll hate them because my chickens are routinely held and cuddled and that silkies are all mean. Is that really true?? Two of those people live together and have horror stories about a silkie who attacked them on sight.

My teenage daughters love to hold, cuddle, and hand-feed our hens, and they would be devastated if they had an attack chicken. Every Google search I've done results in realllly weird websites and some of them are disturbing in nature. I can't view another cock fighting website so I'm asking here.

 

[BantyChooks]

It varies, just as any breed does. I have had a mean-ish Silkie and two others that were fantastic. Hens have a higher likelihood of being nice.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

No. They are not any meaner than any other chicken! Actually, they are very docile and friendly if you spend time with them. Of course, some roosters might be mean, just like other chicken breeds. I think silkies are a great addition to any flock. They tend to go broody though. Which is even greater, if you want to hatch chicks!

 

[sourland]

In my experience they are more mellow than most breeds; although, upon occasion a rooster may have a nasty streak.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I have several running around in the yard with my standards and my 4 year old grandson scoops them and snuggles them all the time. They are sweet and easygoing.
But like the others said, It can depend on the chicken and usually it'll be a roo that gets mean if anybody.

 

[JaeG]

Our Silkie hen is a dear little thing, but I wouldn't have wanted to keep the little roo who went back to the breeder. He was very forward from a very young age, and bossy as anything to the other chicks. Stick with the girls and you'll be in cuddly heaven!

 

[Creteloc]

Thank you. I kind of figured it was a roo that went mean and maybe they didn't handle them a lot as chicks. I can't wait to get my 3 silkies. I just hope at least 2 of them are hens because they will be in a smaller coop beside my bigger hens.

 

[Gray Farms]

Not typically, but it can vary from bird to bird just like every other breed.