Concerning silkies, am I the only person in America

[Windy Ridge]

They were developed in Asia--Feathersite says probably Japan--and mentioned by Marco Polo as an already-established breed.

Perhaps the Silkie experts know more? I'm only speaking as a history person.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I've always heard China.

 

[Windy Ridge]

I dunno... in Japan the Silkie birds are called Ukokkei... I thought they came from either China or India. I'm not sure why Feathersite has Silkies listed as originating in Japan. I defer to the experts, though. I know the first mention of them was from China and Marco Polo's writings, but I didn't know if Feathersite knew of some different theory about the origins of the Ukokkei or not.

 

[Davaroo]

"The Silkie is a variety of chicken believed to have originated in eastern Asia.

Silkies generally have a fluffy appearance due to their feathers lacking functioning barbicels; essentially, all their feathers are very much like down. Their unique appearance and their quiet temperament mean they are often kept as pets.
(Gee, do ya think??)

The hens easily become broody, laying only a dozen or so eggs before attempting to hatch out their clutch. They are considered excellent mothers. Their broodiness makes them a poor breed for egg production, and their dark skin makes them difficult to market as meat birds in Europe and America.

Silkies are near-unique among chickens — both skin and bones are black which, apart from Silkies, is only found in the rare Ayam Cemani breed from Indonesia (which is a normally-feathered breed that is completely black, not including the blood, as rumor once held).
(According to the pics in the article, even the guts are black. Black skin, bones and guts - yeccccch!)

They also have five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. The American Bantam Association accepts six standard colors for silkies: black, blue, buff, white, partridge and gray. There are also other colors: red, calico, cuckoo, etc.
One theory presents white as the original color with black following as a mutation. Buff was introduced via a cochin cross, as well as for the cuckoo pattern.

There are two varieties of silkie: bearded and non-bearded. Marco Polo is reported to have encountered Silkies in China at the end of the 13th century, where they are raised for the gourmet meat market to this day.

Silkies are only bantam size in the USA. American silkies are actually intermediate in size, not proper bantam but not large fowl either. Elsewhere there are standards for both the bantam Silkie and the standard Silkie. Silkies are used in traditional Chinese medicine, due to their dark skin colouration. A cross has been undertaken to transfer this pigmentation to a larger breed.
(WHY???)"

- - Courtesy of Wikepedia

 

[bantymum]

Yes silkies came from a little island off the coast of majorca.
A lady dropped her powder puff and it was eaten by a faverolle who hatched out some favvies with powder puffs on their heads, then the favvy came across a dead cat and proceeded to eat it, she then hatched out bantams with powder puffs on their heads and fur on their feet.
They are also known for their healing properties, they cure anxiety and depression!!!!and also if you lose your powder puff you can pick your silky up and dab her pompom on the powder compact and blot your face with her. I hear that some celebs in Hollywood have ditched the chihauhas and have silkies instead!!!

 

[Windy Ridge]

I like Bantymum's story best!

Sort of reminds me of the story of the Haggis...

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Quote:
Are you sure it wasn't a cocker spaniel??? Those feet are awfully foofy! It would also account for the buff variety.

 

[bantymum]

they can also be used to tickle people, and as feather dusters.

 

[thndrdancr]

Hm, I am not so sure about a "quiet temperament". I have to

at this. This little showgirl I hatched is the noisiest thing I ever heard.
She sounds exactly like a squeaky wheel when she is eating. Happy squeaky bicycle wheel.
The sounds like a police whistle when she is alarmed. I mean a true loud police whistle.
And when she really screams, which I have only heard a few times when I have picked her up (guess she thought I was gonna have her for dinner, the goofy thing) she was almost the equivalent of a small child squealing, or a pig. She is just plain NOISY!
And she is not all that tame. I guess I need to work with them more, just having the two.
I must admit for laugh factors, she is a hoot, and no, she is NOT the brightest bulb in the socket. She can see and so it has NOTHING to do with vision. But she looks a bit like a spider when she scurries.
Do all silkies SCURRY, when they are little? I guess they cant fly so the man upstairs gave them the ability to move FAST.
My sis honked the horn last night by accident when cleaning the car, and omg, you never seen anything move so fast in your life. I couldnt even find her, buried in the little patch of dormant iris leaves.

All I could hear was that silly bicycle that needed WD-40.

She has endeared herself to all of us, tho.
Jill

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Im like OMG! Its a po'd feather duster! Hang it up at the county fair and win it as a prize.

Holy cow Elderoo, you crack me up! And I completely heard the Valley Girl accent in that!


I think the girls are adorable (I just want to love 'em and squeeze 'em and hug 'em..) but.. what's up with the comb? I don't mean to offend anyone.. but the roos look a bit like a Klingon from Star Trek.

-Meghan​