SILKIES....Why The Bad Reputation?

[tnchickenut]

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LOL you may have just been unlucky? Roosters of any breed CAN be mean. I think people goo goo and gah gah over the way the look. Game hens don't have big crests and fuzzy feathers. That's what makes em so cool.

I have had just about all the breeds in a hatchery catalog and then some.... these were not your usual "some can be mean from any breed".... these were unfit for mixed flock life. Kept in small groups, maybe... but they had my OEGBs and bantam Cochins scared to eat. $10 for 15 silkies.... gone!

 

[joe17]

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Where did you get yours from? I'm not trying to proove that all silkies are sweet little things but I haven't heard many people say that about em. Have you had a lot of experience with them? Some people think their cockerels are actually hens and wonder why the fight.

 

[Debbi]

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I've met some pretty rank Cochins in my day! Like I said, any breed can have their bad apples, you must've gotten ahold of a whole barrel of them!

 

[tnchickenut]

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Where did you get yours from? I'm not trying to proove that all silkies are sweet little things but I haven't heard many people say that about em. Have you had a lot of experience with them? Some people think their cockerels are actually hens and wonder why the fight.

I can tell the difference in a hen and a roo. I've been downsizing but just last year I had 450 chickens broke down to about 5-15 of a breed each. These were mean and the roosters would rape other breed roosters and the hens would spar with each other. Poor games and cochins would just hide in the corner. If I came across a silkie who needed help... I would quickly find it a new home... not keeping one ever again.

They were hatchery stock I got from TSC... bought them because they were on clearance and bloodied up. Here I felt sorry for them but they probrably did the pecking to themselves.

 

[jen5680]

Yes you for sure must have got a really bad batch or something!!
Silkies are NOT evil at all. And the reason some people think they are dumb is bc they can't see very well with all that
head fluff. They are so sweet and you are going to love them to death!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TinyTotsSeramas]

bad behavior can also be genetic. so you probably got a batch out of a bad roo.
doesnt mean all Silkies are mean.
you should have went to a breeder for your Silkies.

 

[Judy]

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Not only evil, but not from this planet....

You are right, it is a common joke on here, perpetrated by those who (like me) just don't like the look of them.

Silkies, Naked Necks and Turkens... <<<<shudder>>>>

 

[joe17]

I do find hatchery silkies are meaner. Could be because of the poor genetics. If they were bloodied up as chicks, they probably had a rough life early on. That could have changed the temperament.

 

[chicmom]

I had some hatchery silkies, and they weren't evil, but they were very very skittish. Not my cup of tea, so I found them new homes. I think they're adoreable though......

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

I want a silkie! My grandma has a bunch of chickens and a few silkies. They are the sweetest out of all her chickens! She has barnevelders, rhode islands, brahmas, frizzles and more I am sure. I can just walk out in her pen and pick one of the silkies up. The other chickens are so skittish they almost beat themselves to death against the pen when you walk in! If I ever get the chance, I will get me some silkies!