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

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Depends on what country you are in. In the US, there are only bantams. Except for a very few project birds where folks are working on largefowl silkies. And while I occasionally hear about someone who knows someone who has a friend who is working on largefowl silkes, I have never met an actual person who made that claim about themselves. Silkies often look much larger than they really are...long, very pouffy feathers can easily double the size that a bird APPEARS to be. And then you pick it up and realize it is all fluff.

 

[DuckRaiser]

Depends on what country you are in. In the US, there are only bantams. Except for a very few project birds where folks are working on largefowl silkies. And while I occasionally hear about someone who knows someone who has a friend who is working on largefowl silkes, I have never met an actual person who made that claim about themselves. Silkies often look much larger than they really are...long, very pouffy feathers can easily double the size that a bird APPEARS to be. And then you pick it up and realize it is all fluff.

Good!

I have high hopes for choosing now!

 

[chickboy917]

I recently purchased two silkies from tractor supply and they where in the bantam pen

 

[shellikirbey]

. A week old silkie batam I just got at cackle hatchery and they always have them as batams

 

[aekitzy]

I purchased 4 silkies from Tractor Supply last year, also labeled as bantams. They are now full-grown and equal in size to my brown leghorns. My hens weigh 4-5 pounds each. A silkie breeder group told me that they are not really silkies if they are that large and that "hatchery silkies" are crossbred with "whatever is available." So, I have a fluffy, silkie-feathered chicken, but it's apparently not really a silkie. So confusing!

 

[Nadinewolf]

Large fowl silkies are seen often in my country. and in fact LF silkies came before bantams here. Silkies are considered a bantam breed in ''some'' countries, but this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam-sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only four pounds (1.8 kg), and females weighing three pounds (1.36 kg).[3] The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 36 ounces (1 kg), and females that are 32 ounces (910 grams).[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkie

 

[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.

 

[Sharon Barrett]

I have two sizes of Silkie's the larger males which I have three are around 3 pounds, then I have another male Silkie that his weight is around one pound he has four girl friends that are really tiny compared to him. I was wondering if he would get any bigger but he has not changed sizes in a month nor have the females.

 

[Diannastarr]

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.

i have been looking for the best broodie hens, would you say the silkies are good broodies..? thats what i have been hearing on line , but im not sure how big the silkies are..? could a silkie hen hatch 4 regular size chicken eggs like a BR size egg..?

 

[Diannastarr]

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.

im glad to see your in Tempe AZ. im in Bisbee AZ, i wanted silkies from a privet breeder..!! so when i get my silkie broody sanctuary built , i will be contacting you..to see what you might have available & if possible older hens cant hardly wait...lol.