Poofy Silkies....Question?

[Kev]

Silkies are "puffy" due to the hookless mutation. Birds pure for this gene have a feather defect that causes the feathers to grow out without the miniature barbs/hooks which on normal feather enable them to neatly "zip up" into a feather shape.

Take a normal feather and split it apart on the side.. then run your fingers over it and you can see it "zipping back into shape". That's the mini hooks in action. Silkie feathers just don't have that so their feathers pretty much puff out of control.

 

[M@M@2four]

Yep! I agree with Kanchii!!! My sikies love the warm water and when I blow dry mine, they DO go into a trance! lol Mine just purr and lay in my lap while I do it. The important thing is to dry them completely--they can get sick if they're still wet and placed back out in a cool/cold barn.

God bless,
Tracey

 

[ncgnance]

Is there any special care that goes with having silkies? I mean, can they stay outside like my other chickens? I sure hope so, as I've got eggs almost ready to hatch, and this is the first time I've thought about how to care for them.

 

[Kev]

Care is same. Only difference is that they are unable to fly well so a lot are floor sleepers. Some do learn to "wing"(ha ha) it and manage to roost off the ground. This can make them a little more vulnerable to predators at night but in a secure coop they should be ok.

 

[ncgnance]

Boy, I am glad to hear that!! Thanks, Kev.