Tag: colors

Silkies, A Unique Breed of Chicken

Silkie chickens are a unique breed of chicken known for their distinct appearance and personality. They are the best breed if you’re looking to hatch eggs because they are excellent dedicated mothers, and you can count on them to be broody many times a year.
Silkies can come in a variety of colors, including splash, white, black, blue, buff, gray, and partridge. Their feathers have a unique fluffy and soft appearance because they lack the barbs and barbules that hold the feathers together in most other chicken breeds. This gives Silkie a distinctive appearance and texture.
Additionally, they have black skin and bones, and their feathers can have a slight iridescence or shine to them.

Here are Some of the Key Characteristics that Make Silkies Different

Appearance: Silkies have a unique appearance that sets them apart from other breeds. They are covered in fluffy, fur-like feathers that feel soft and silky to the touch. They also have black or blue skin, dark-colored meat, and a distinctive crest of feathers on their head.
Personality: Silkies are known for their friendly and docile nature. They enjoy affection and attention and are a great choice for children to raise.
Broodiness: Silkies are known for their broody nature, meaning they have a strong instinct to sit on and incubate their eggs. This makes them popular among backyard chicken keepers who want to hatch their chicks.
Size: Silkies are a smaller breed of chicken, weighing between 2-3 pounds on average.

When it comes to egg production, silkies are not considered to be prolific egg layers.
On average, Silkies lay around 100-120 small, cream-colored eggs per year. As a comparison, the popular Rhode Island Red hen lays approximately 250-300 eggs per year. Keep in mind, egg production for all breeds can be influenced by various factors, such as age, diet, and environment.

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Silkie Bantam

All About the Beautiful Silkie Bantam

Silkies are a breed of chicken known for their fluffy, soft plumage that resembles fur. They have a distinctive appearance, five toes, and with combs and wattles should be a mulberry color or black. Their beak is usually a blue-gray color. They have black eyes and are described as exotic chickens. They are prized for their soft fluffy appearance and are quite popular in showing and exhibition.
They are known for having a calm and docile temperament, making them a popular choice for backyard flocks. They are a bantam breed, which means they are smaller in size compared to other chicken breeds. Silkie bantams typically weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds. The weight can vary slightly depending on the sex of the bird, with roosters generally being slightly heavier than hens.

Silkies are thought to have originated in Asia, with China being the most likely place of origin. They were brought to Europe in the 13th century by Marco Polo and were later introduced to the Americas by early settlers. They are a hardy breed, able to tolerate cold weather, and can be raised in both free-range and confined environments.
Silkies are not known for being great layers, but I don’t find this to be true. My Silkie ladies lay most every day…. when not broody. They do indeed tend to be quite broody but are very attentive mothers, so they’re a great option for people who are interested in breeding ornamental chickens.

The Silkie chicken breed is available in bearded and non-bearded varieties. The bearded Silkie strain has a muff under the beak which covers the earlobes – this is absent in the other non-bearded Silkies. The Silkie rooster has a circular-shaped comb while the hen has a small, flat comb.
Silkie chickens come in many interesting colors, but accepted varieties include black, blue, buff, and white colors. Splash and partridge are also recognized and accepted APA colors.
Silkies are rather slow to mature, and usually don’t start laying until they reach 6 or 7 months. Eggs are cream in color and are considered small to medium.

Interesting fact: Silkies cannot fly, so roosts in the coop should be positioned low to the ground. You can offer a ladder to a higher roosting bar, but for the most part, I find Silkies prefer to be no more than 2 ft off the ground.

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About the Marans

The Marans originated in Marans, France, and were imported into the United Kingdom in the 1930s.
The hens lay on average around 150–210 dark brown eggs per year.  Marans are considered a dual-purpose bird, meaning they’re appreciated for their eggs and table qualities.

Recognized Colors:
White, Wheaten, Black Copper.
Not recognized:
Birchen, Blue, Salmon, Blue Silver Salmon, Silver Cuckoo, and Golden Cuckoo.

Egg Laying Facts

Expect an average of 3-4 eggs per week.
Color: Dark brown/or chocolate
Size: Large

About

Class: Continental (French)
Size: Heavy, 7-8 pounds
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam

Features:
Comb Type: Single
Number of Toes: 4
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: In the United States, mostly no

Suitability
The Marans are cold hardy birds, but not especially heat tolerant.
Broody: Yes / Average
Personality: Varies, however, generally docile, very active.

Interesting Fact: Cuckoo Marans hens can be mated with an unbarred cock to produce sex-linked hybrid offspring.

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