Silkie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Silkie is also an alternate spelling of Selkie, a mythical creature that can change between seal and human form.
The Silkie is a variety of chicken believed to have originated in eastern Asia. Silkies generally have a fluffy appearance due to their feathers lacking functioning barbicels; essentially, all their feathers are very much like down. Their unique appearance and their quiet temperament mean they are often kept as pets. The hens easily become broody, laying only a dozen or so eggs before attempting to hatch out their clutch. They are considered excellent mothers, however care is needed that the chicks do not get tangled in the hen's silken feathers. Often this is achieved by giving the hen a good haircut so that the long silken strands can't go around the chicken's neck.
Their broodiness makes them a poor breed for egg production, and their dark skin makes them difficult to market as meat birds in Europe and America.
Silkies are smaller chickens, with size being intermediate between bantams and standard sized chickens. Silkies are near-unique among chickens — both skin and bones are black which, apart from Silkies, is only found in the rare Ayam Cemani breed from Indonesia (which is a normally-feathered breed that is completely black, including the blood). They also have five toes, whereas most chickens only have four.
Silkies are more susceptible to lice and scaly leg than other chickens, so regular inspections are important to ensure good health of the birds.
The American Bantam Association accepts six standard colors for silkies: black, blue, buff, white, partridge and gray. There are also two other colors: splash, and red. There are two varieties of silkie: bearded and non-bearded.
Marco Polo is reported to have encountered Silkies in China at the end of the 13th Century, where they are raised for the gourmet meat market to this day.
Silkies are only bantam size in the USA. Elsewhere there are standards for both the bantam Silkie and the standard Silkie. Few people eat Silkies due to their black skin and purple flesh. Originally raised in China as a meat chicken.
Silkies are used in traditional Chinese medicine, due to their dark skin colouration. A cross has been undertaken to transfer this pigmentation to a larger breed.[1]
[edit] References
- The Silkie not your average pet, 1998, Sharon Greenaway. Bellsouth Poultry supplies. ISBN 0949340081
- Moore, Alanna (1998). Backyard Poultry — Naturally, 2nd Ed. Bolwarrah Press, Bolwarrah Vic Australia. ISBN 0-9585590-1-5.
- ^ Stanhope, Bill. Developing A Large Dark Skinned Meat Bird By Crossing With The Silkie.
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