Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Kimonoboi]

I have also started my goal of trying to get a Japanese Silkie with the eggs being blue. I really love the fluffiness of the silkies but I also want to be able to get blue eggs instead of the white ones. That would be so cool.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

From what I’ve read Japanese silkies are just silkie that don’t follow the sop, like single combed or silkies with bad feathered feet. I have some, I got them from the feed store.

 

[MROO]

I have also started my goal of trying to get a Japanese Silkie with the eggs being blue. I really love the fluffiness of the silkies but I also want to be able to get blue eggs instead of the white ones. That would be so cool.

I have never seen or heard of a "Japanese Silkie." The only varieties I've come across are bearded and non-bearded - and the ones from the feed stores and many large-scale, commercial hatcheries are still regular Silkies, just poorly bred.
Do you have any references for the Japanese birds? Now I'm curious!

EDIT to ADD: Over the years, there have been multiple BYC-ers attempting to create a blue-egg-laying Silkie. A few are still working on a reliable calico, as well. Has anyone been successful?

 

[Beau plus penny]

16 week old blue partridge. I really thought she was a boy for the longest time. I'm actually disappointed because I really want a blue partridge cockerel for breeding. 2 years and haven't got one yetView attachment 4187213

if you want your bird on paper send a picture in my thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-will-draw-your-birds-if-you-want-me-to.1676010/

 

[CSolis]

Have a funny story to tell.. I have the last 10 incubated (by me) babies out in the crib brooder on the front deck now.. Night before last I heard an awful distress call coming from there so I went to check. One poor little satin was stuck backwards in the corner looking like a pretzel.. Wry neck! OMG, but her crop was just as full as could be so she had been pigging out.. I brought her in screeching and in agony, and rubbed the back of her head and neck with DMSO. Tried to give her sublingual B Vits, but that was a no go.. Before I could even get her in a box I had prepared (one handed no less) she had calmed down and was doing the happy chick churrrrrrrrr churrrrrrrrr.. I stuck her in the spare bedroom, and went to bed hoping for the best. Well, wouldn't you know it, she was right as rain the next morning and by the poo all over the basket, she had to be moving a lot.. She refused breakfast and vitamin water, and just squawked her head off at me. I don't like it in here! So I put her out with the others, and she's been good to go ever since.. she's even had the zoomies after a few hours with her mates. I don't know if she got pecked on the head or what... she doesn't have a vaulted skull. I'm just happy the DMSO worked so quickly. I've been reading articles on substack by the midwestern doctor who has been highlighting all the benefits of DMSO that a 'certain industry' has tried to cover up for years. It's beneficial in treating strokes, spinal injuries and a whole lot more.

 

[Kimonoboi]

From what I’ve read Japanese silkies are just silkie that don’t follow the sop, like single combed or silkies with bad feathered feet. I have some, I got them from the feed store.

Ya, usually Japanese keep them as pets historically ( and eggs) but the Chinese and mainland eat them as medicinal chickens because they say it is good for calming the body, allergies, reducing risk of cancer, death, etc. So in the mainland, although both are there, the ones with less fluff on the head tends to be more common.

 

[Kimonoboi]

I have never seen or heard of a "Japanese Silkie." The only varieties I've come across are bearded and non-bearded - and the ones from the feed stores and many large-scale, commercial hatcheries are still regular Silkies, just poorly bred.
Do you have any references for the Japanese birds? Now I'm curious!

EDIT to ADD: Over the years, there have been multiple BYC-ers attempting to create a blue-egg-laying Silkie. A few are still working on a reliable calico, as well. Has anyone been successful?

so, current update on that. after using gpt to scan the web, it looks like some people in Germany have, but also here in the US, theres a hatchery that sells chicks but no eggs. Each girl for about ~60$ each. They are not as fluffy, which is understandable because they are not pure pure, but i did see a bunch of worrisome reviews. I was able to find another person by accident who has ordered from that same company and their silkies do lay eggs, I will be getting my eggs on the 28th of this month. I am looking forward to seeing these eggs on my desk incubator.

 

[Cloverfluff]

First and foremost - ABSOLUTELY NO HATING ON SILKIES ALLOWED!!! If you aren’t here to support our fuzzy friends, don’t respond.

Silkies get a bad rap for the following:
"Looks like a dust mop"
"Too hard to maintain"
"Poor immune system"
"Dumber than rocks"
"0 predator awareness"
And oh, so much more.

Well my friends - I thought so too, until I actually got silkies for myself. These are some of the most wonderful birds out there.

I’ve found them to be highly heat tolerant, wonderful mothers, having the strongest immune systems in my Bantam flock, GREAT LAYERS (that’s right folks), adorable as all get out, and more.

I currently have 9 silkies - and my rooster has been nothing but a gentleman to his ladies. They free range daily and I’ve not had a silkie get killed by a predator yet. My hens average 5 eggs a week - not too bad for a silkie, eh?


Most of the time, these silkie haters haven’t even owned the breed, but rather pretend they know everything.


So... let the fun begin! Support our silkies!

Pictures always welcome.

Be mindful, and respect others...

Off-topic discussions are allowed, though try to maintain the subject of silkies.

-Kayla-

My only problem with silkies (mostly mine), is that they take the idea of chicken math to a whole new level.

 

[Cloverfluff]

I find their feather styles after going out into the rain quite funny. My rooster went from a cottonball style to spikes.