![]() ![]() Silkies are so devoted to their eggs that they will not even move for people. A broody silkie will not even move for predators in the coop when all her coop mates run away. Some have opted to keep a separate small flock of Silkies as organic incubators to hatch for a flock of a different breed because they are such exceptional mothers. If you don’t want your silkies broody, it’s best to collect their eggs every day so they don’t collect a clutch of eggs to sit on. Part of the reason Silkies are not good egg layers is that they go broody so often. They will stop laying while they are brooding. ![]() Silkies can go broody several times per year for twenty-one days at a time. Silkie chickens are one of the only breeds that will set with duck or goose eggs as well as chicken eggs. Silkies can sit on eggs of any breed and be good mothers. Silkie hens have a strong tendency to go broody, and they make excellent mothers. According to Modern Farmer, the broth from silkie chickens can aid in increasing female fertility, improving a pregnant woman’s baby’s nutrition, and restoring energy for women after childbirth. The black Silkie chicken is said to strengthen the immune system, according to Chinese medicine. They are also thought to be medicinal in Asian cultures. They can be eaten, but the meat tastes a little stronger than other breeds of chicken. And some people feel they are simply too cute to eat. Because the skin and meat are black, they are rarely offered for sale as food, because their black meat scares some people. The Silkie is not a breed that most people would choose as a dual-purpose or meat bird because they are so tiny, but they are prized in Asia. These supplements will provide the extra calcium they require to lay eggs as well as possible. You can also give them a separate bowl of oyster shells or crushed eggshells to consume as desired. To keep your birds healthy and productive, keep their coop and run clean. Hens will reach full maturity at 19 weeks, and they should start laying shortly after. Their eggs size ranges from small to medium and are a cream to light brown color. Silkies are not prolific egg layers and will lay somewhere around 100 eggs per year. They also have feathers covering their legs and a large crest of feathers on top of their heads. And while most chicken breeds have four toes, the Silkie has five. Silkie chickens have some other unique features, such as their dark blue skin, meat, and bones. This lack of barbicels is what gives Silkies their silky feel. Their feathers lack barbicels, the hook-like barbs that other chicken breeds have and which keep their feather sections together, giving them their distinctive look. The name “Silkie” comes from the silk-like appearance of the birds’ feathers. Egg Color: Silkie eggs are cream to light brown in color.Color: Puffy white, blue, black, buff, grey, lavender, splash, or partridge.Size: Very small Bantam sized birds 2lb females and 2.5lb males.Cons: Not good for egg or meat production.Pros: Excellent mother, wonderful personalities and make great pets, unique appearance, their smalls size, and personality means they will handle confinement well, and weather hardy. ![]() Silkies are perhaps the most broody of any breed if you want your hens to sit on eggs of any breed, then these would make a good choice for you. The meat is also not that desirable which means Silkies should mainly be kept for the benefits they provide rather than profit margins. Silkies will lay 100 small cream-colored eggs each year because of their small size. They are cold hardy so they can be raised in colder climates than other breeds of chickens. Silkies have a calm temperament and are not aggressive towards humans or other animals. The Silkie chicken is known for its puffy hair-like feathers, hens making excellent mothers, and their very friendly personalities. ![]()
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