Silkie hens or pullets generally mature around eight to 10 months and cockerels about 10 to 12 months. Here, one can see their grayish-blue beaks, which are short and quite broad at the base. Hopefully, they will start to lay some eggs soon. Remember these adolescent Silkies I brought home from the same show? These four are doing very well. They make around 30 different calls to communicate with each other, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.”Īt this stage, these Silkies are already greeting visitors that enter the room – I am looking forward to seeing them mature with the rest of my flock. I wonder what their conversations are like. And, they are naturally more calm than most other breeds. Silkies are adaptable, playful, and friendly. Chicks remain on starter feed for at least the first six weeks and then progress to grower feed.Īll my chicks get a balanced diet of medicated chick crumb with some treats and fresh greens from my gardens. Starter feed is a protein dense variety of chicken feed designed to meet a chick’s dietary requirements. Chicks require an air temperature of 95 degrees during the first week, 90 degrees the second week, and so on – going down by around five degrees per week until they’re ready to transition to the coop. Here in the Stable feed room, they are checked several times a day. It is always nice to see such a strong and energetic group of babies.īecause the Silkie’s feathers lack functioning barbicels, similar to down on other birds, they are unable to fly. These chicks are great eaters, and seem to get bigger and more curious every day. Silkies grow a bit slower than other chicken breeds and shouldn’t be outside until they have all their feathers and have lost all their fuzz. Silkie chickens are known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel silk- or satin-like to the touch. If you’re unfamiliar with Silkies, they were originally bred in China. Most chickens normally have four toes – a few breeds have five, Silkies among them. Silkies also have black skin, along with black muscles and bones, and dark beaks, combs, and wattles.Īnd, Silkies have extra toes, a genetic condition called polydactylly. Here is one of the gray Silkie chicks – notice, Silkies have black eyes. They include black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, splash, and white. There are eight Silkie color varieties accepted by the American Poultry Association.
11 healthy chicks hatched – all in special incubators set up in my Stable feed room.Īs soon as the chicks are able to walk, they’re up and about and playing and interacting with each other.
While there, I purchased a group of chickens and some eggs. The event features more than 2500 birds, including large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, Guineas, and of course, a variety of wonderful breed chickens. In January, I attended the 2022 Northeastern Poultry Congress – a poultry show held every year in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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