Silkie chickens

[youtubeminer]

Ok I'm thinking of buying silkie chickens but I need to know so stuff about them but I know they can't jump but can we still put a roost so they can sleep? Are they good egg layers? Are the rooster friendly to human? And are they good chickens Thank you if you answer my questions!

 

[LRH97]

Silkies are one of my favorites! Mine do have access to a roost, but most of them opt to sleep in a corner of the coop. Silkies are notorious mothers, some of the best in the business. They are fair layers but their laying cycle often gets interrupted by their broodiness. Keep in mind that some girls will be quite content to hatch out clutch after clutch of eggs with almost no break in between. Not all are like this, but I have had a few that seemed like all they lived for was raising babies. For the most part, the breed has an overall sweet and gentle personality. That being said, I have yet to have a problem with a Silkie roo but that's not to say that it will never happen. There is often (if not always) an exception to the rule, especially when dealing with animals. Here's a link to the reviews on Silkies. It'll give you some insight on what others have experienced with them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/silkie

There are plenty of other resources here at BYC as well. Maybe do a little hunting around the forum and see what ya come up with. All in all, they do make good pets, good for kids, and fun to have around. So I say go for it.

 

[Scarlit]

I basically agree with everything LRH97 above.
I have 5 silkies, and I love each and every one of them! Give them a lot of socialization, and they'll be all over you! I have 4 hens and one roo. The hens are great and took my BR in when I introduced it as a chick. Some of my friends have silkies and I see them try and hatch tennis balls sometimes XD. They're a really good breed of chicken for pets or to hatch eggs and take care of chicks!
And yeah, Silkies can't fly/jump very well. My silkies jump up on my bottom corral board at my stalls to roost, which is about a foot of the ground. So, you can put a tiny something in there if you want, but the most I see mine jump is 1.5' and that's it. My silkies sleep on the ground in a corner of the coop, under the ramp.
My rooster is very sweet. It's a little hard to catch him, but once I start holding him he just calms down and sits in my lap until I eventually have to put him down myself. Like my other roo, he's started mating, but only with other silkies, he won't even take a second glance at the other chickens. XD

 

[silkieamy]

Where are you located I love silkies

 

[silkieamy]

Anyone in Panama City Florida have silkies bantam

 

[youtubeminer]

Are the rooster noisey a lot?

 

[Scarlit]

Like any rooster, they crow, which can be pretty loud, and mine likes to imitate the noises crows make, which isn't noisy, just very very weird to hear. Otherwise, not really. If you plan on getting a rooster and live in a suburban or urban area, I would make sure it's legal, and if your neighbors would be okay with it.

 

[keesmom]

I have never had a silkie that will roost. They sleep in a pile. I have never had one that was a good egg layer, because they want to go broody often. One of the nastiest cockerels I have ever had was a gorgeous splash silkie, though I am sure he was an exception.

Whether or not they are a good breed for you will depend on what your expectations are for them. Here they are just the kids' pets and occasional foster moms.

 

[Teila]

I used to have two white Silkies but sadly they have both since passed away but I do have a couple of Silkie mixes.

With my two, they did roost but on a very low roost, just inches above the coop floor. My Silkie mixes roost on the higher perch with the other bantams. They laid every day or two but yep, spent more time broody than they did laying eggs.

Strangely enough, my two were not the friendliest of the bantam flock and if anything seemed more nervous and flighty than my Pekins [bantam Cochins].

Both the past Silkies and current Silkie mixes are by far the noisiest chickens I have had.

When broody, one of my Silkies used to make the loudest screeching noises, similar to a Peacock’s call and the current Silkie mixes [hens] make a noise something between a crowing rooster and a Peacock screech.

Having said all of that, I do like Silkies and would have them again [no room at the moment].

As keesmom has mentioned, whether or not any chicken is a good breed depends on your expectations.

 

[youtubeminer]

How did the two silkie chickens die?