Pros and cons of silkies…

[Buffbrahmabantam]

After years of thinking silkies were weird looking things that I’d never want to own, I’m now really intrigued by them. They keep coming up on google searches when I search for calm chicken breeds. They are kind of cute, in an odd sort of way. Can you all offer opinions on silkies that you’ve owned? Do you like them, or not? Other questions:

1- are they really calm and friendly compared to breeds like orpingtons, or is that just a misnomer from google?
2- can they keep up with a flock of large size chickens, or are they err… constrained by their small legs and short stature.
3- do they get picked on by bigger breeds? Our flock gets a lot of room to roam (1acre) and have a roomy garage for a coop, but in winter they are more confined due to snow.
4- are the roosters easier to manage than full size roosters, or quieter?

Overall do you recommend them as part of a small mixed flock?

We have 6 (spoiled) chickens: 4 full size orpingtons and 2 Brahma bantams. Over the last couple years we lost 2 older hens to various health issues and I want to get a few more hens to supplement and am thinking of getting buff orpingtons (my favorite) and maybe…a few silkies.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have very, very limited experience with Silkies. Just who you want answering your questions, right? But here I go!

1- are they really calm and friendly compared to breeds like orpingtons, or is that just a misnomer from google?

I only got 4 weeks with my chicks, but both were much calmer and friendlier than the other 2 bantam breeds I raised this spring. I tend to find a lot of that chick personality carries on into adulthood.

2- can they keep up with a flock of large size chickens, or are they err… constrained by their small legs and short stature.

It's best if they're raised together with any large fowl. You might get an individual bird that can hold its own, but Silkies tend to be bullied by other breeds. Many people just keep them as a separate flock.

3- do they get picked on by bigger breeds? Our flock gets a lot of room to roam (1acre) and have a roomy garage for a coop, but in winter they are more confined due to snow.

See above.

4- are the roosters easier to manage than full size roosters, or quieter?

From what I've seen, this is a gamble. Someone on YouTube has a rescue Silkie rooster, and that thing is like holding a bobcat. You'd have to vet any cockerels as you raise them.

 

[FrostRanger]

@Debbie292d would best be able to answer your questions

I will only add that they are genetically more prone to certain vitamin deficiencies so you should not feed silkie chicks medicated feed and they are also more prone to merak's diseasedisease which is something to keep in mind if the disease is a major issue in your area, they are also very broody birds which is great if you want to hatch out a lot of chicks, but annoying if you're not. I would keep them in a separate setup since your existing flock hasn't been raised around them. Them being small, docile and different looking makes it very likely they'll get bullied by a flock that wasn't raised around them. If none of that is a problem, there's certainly no harm in trying out a small silkie flock for yourself and seeing if you like them

 

[thecatumbrella]

I will only add that they are genetically more prone to certain vitamin deficiencies so you should not feed silkie chicks medicated feed and they are also more prone to merak's diseasedisease which is something to keep in mind if the disease is a major issue in your area

YES! Completely forgot about this. One of my Silkie chicks had neurological issues.

 

[Buffbrahmabantam]

YES! Completely forgot about this. One of my Silkie chicks had neurological issues.

Interesting. We once by mistake hatched some chicks that the seller in hindsight thought were silkie/Easter egger crosses (they were freebies from us buying appleyard eggs, and we all thought they were call duck eggs, until they hatched, LOL). Long story short, one of them we felt we had to cull because he developed a weird reactionary neck-jerking behavior. He was really sweet though. I’m only remembering this now. It was years ago. I wonder if that was due to neurological issues from being part silkie? We sent him for necropsy to Washington state university and they did not find evidence of mareks but they also said nothing was conclusive. Thanks for responding. I think we will stick with orpingtons for now. We love them and no point bringing extra trouble into our lives. The thing we most love about orpingtons is they are so calm and troublefree and it makes the whole flock a joy to be around.

 

[nuthatched]

Individual personality and temperament is up to the individual bird, not breed.
They're probably seen as calm since they can't see well and if they cam, can't react because they don't have proper feathers.

 

[nuthatched]

Interesting. We once by mistake hatched some chicks that the seller in hindsight thought were silkie/Easter egger crosses (they were freebies from us buying appleyard eggs, and we all thought they were call duck eggs, until they hatched, LOL). Long story short, one of them we felt we had to cull because he developed a weird reactionary neck-jerking behavior. He was really sweet though. I’m only remembering this now. It was years ago. I wonder if that was due to neurological issues from being part silkie? We sent him for necropsy to Washington state university and they did not find evidence of mareks but they also said nothing was conclusive. Thanks for responding. I think we will stick with orpingtons for now. We love them and no point bringing extra trouble into our lives. The thing we most love about orpingtons is they are so calm and troublefree and it makes the whole flock a joy to be around.

Silkies need extra vitamins to stave that off, all they need was extra tlc.