Our foundation stock is a wide gene pool so we have many different varieties to work with. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot. Black sex links, for example, are created as the result of breeding a solid-colored rooster over a barred female. It is thought that they originated in India, China or Japan and they arrived in Europe around 200 years ago where they were sold as crosses between rabbits and chickens! Unlike some chickens who get rather flighty around humans, silkies have poor flying skills and love human interaction, making handling (and hugging) them a breeze. However, after the first week, you may notice some of the first feathers emerging. Of course, later on, you’ll notice some key differences in sexual behaviors. They cost less to keep, are easier to handle, take up less space and... What are they? Their fantastic feathering also covers their legs, so it’s no wonder they often draw similarities to a giant pom-pom! Here are some of the key differences between roosters and hens. For example, people used to “predict” the sex of a chick by tying a needle to a piece of string. More often than not, hens will gravitate toward roosters with large, vibrantly-colored combs. These longer, pointed, hard feathers are similar to those of other birds. PARTRIDGE SILKIE. This doesn’t work on all breeds, but in breeds where there is a decent amount of feather variation between roosters and hens, you may be successful. And unfortunately, that can be anywhere from 12-30 weeks of age. They tend to cascade down around the tail, providing a sleek overall appearance. They have the “awwwww” factor, so if you are looking for a pet chicken, get yourself a Silkie. Just like all chickens, silkies require a good quality coop to protect them from the elements and pesky predators. Some people refer to it as the “teenager” stage while others regard it as the “dinosaur” stage – they look like miniature velociraptors, in fact! If you love silkies, go check them out for incredible information. In America the partridge colour is based on gold, with the addition of Mh. In other words, a breed breeds true. January 12, 2021, by Kassandra Smith January 09, 2021, by Kassandra Smith Silkies can't hop very high or fly at all so are easy to keep contained in a backyard. Now let’s go a little more detailed and look at the difference between hens and roosters, cockerels and pullets. What Are the Best Animals to Keep With Chickens. As silkies are known for being quite broody hens and great mothers, many choose to forgo traditional incubation in favour of Mother Nature. But there are plenty of good reasons to purchase straight-run chickens, too. To produce correct color and markings, partridge Cochin chicken require double mating. We are now lucky to find silkies all across the globe, and in many backyard flocks! January 13, 2021, by Kassandra Smith This is because sexed birds are typically more in-demand, and the process of sexing chicks can be dangerous, so it’s not something that hatcheries want to do if they don’t have to. Starting at around week seven or eight, your chicks will undergo their first partial molt. Join More Than 15,000 Chicken Enthusiasts Who Have Already Subscribed. Silkie chickens … These grow upwards and outwards, curling over the tail for a waterfall-like cascading effect. First documented by Professor R.C. In layman's... It’s a very common practice among backyard chicken keepers to keep LOTS of egg-exquisitely different breeds! The American Silkie Bantam Club was established in 1923 and has been going strong ever since. These bizarre-looking chicken breed is believed to have come from Asia. In fact, it’s close to impossible – which is why many hatcheries offer generous refunds in case you receive a batch of incorrectly sexed chicks. One of the low number of chicken breeds that you can keep in your apartment. Either way, they’ll be quite entertaining to watch at this point, especially as you begin to notice their unique individual behaviors. Silkie, Sebright, and some Golden Campine roosters are called ‘hen feathered’ because they lack the district saddle and hackle feathers. Slow down before you get yourself confused! D304 (Sussex) The hen is similar to the Sussex D104 hen, but its stripes and dots are less significant. The hardest is deciding which breed is most suitable for you. Roosters tend to be more vibrantly colored, in general, than hens. From about week five until week fifteen, your chickens will be in their most awkward stage. Again, this is not true for all breeds or even all groups of chickens. Combs help showcase a rooster’s sexual maturity to the hens. On the one hand, these charming chaps can be a huge benefit in keeping your flock... To keep chickens happy, healthy and laying bounties of delicious eggs, they need to be fed a varied diet rich in protein and calcium- most... It’s morning! You’ll know your rooster is, in fact, a rooster, when he begins to crow. If you’re lucky, you will even have fresh eggs gracing your breakfast table throughout winter, as their fluffy feathers will often keep them warm, content and laying through the colder months. They are wonderful pets for children and have a very sweet disposition. Dust bathing is also particularly important to help prevent lice, mites and fleas, so make sure you provide your flock with dust bathing amenities. It is unknown from where (or when), exactly, these breeds originated, but the most well-documented potential origin is ancient China. These will be small, and might not be noticeable until a little bit later. My blue hen, Hen Solo, and black hen, Leia (RIP) are from a breeder named Kristal Parslow in New York. KnowYourChickens.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. No, it’s a girl. Whether you’re on the silkie bandwagon or not, by the end of this article we can assure you that you’ll have some lovely new silkie additions in your backyard flock quicker than we can say brilliant beautiful bantams! Some chicken breeds that are supposedly easy to sex include: Knowing how to tell the difference between a hen and a rooster is a valuable skill to have, but you shouldn’t lose sleep over trying to figure out the differences between the two before they are totally mature. For free gifts, discount codes, and loads more entertaining information. The origin of the Silkie hen is uncertain although they have been around for several hundred years. While silkies aren’t famed for their egg laying abilities, they are quite good and consistent layers, laying around 3 lovely little cream eggs a week. These small, fluffy chickens are the epitome of the pet chicken. However, it’s worth noting that, while the spurs on a mature rooster will be quite pronounced, hens have the ability to grow spurs, too, especially as they get older.