Silkie

The Silkie is one of the oldest documented chicken breeds in the world, with descriptions in Chinese literature dating back to the seventh century, and the subject of one of Marco Polo's observations during his travels through Asia in the thirteenth century. It is among the most distinctive breeds in existence — the feathers lack the interlocking barbicels that give normal chicken feathers their smooth, aerofoil-like structure, resulting in a coat that feels like silk or fur rather than feathers, and the Silkie's characteristic fluffy, rounded appearance that has made it one of the most photographed breeds in the world of social media poultry keeping.

In practical small farm terms, the Silkie has one attribute that outweighs all others: it is the most reliably broody of any commonly kept breed in Australia. Silkie hens will incubate and hatch eggs with extraordinary dedication, sitting persistently through the 21-day incubation period (or 28 days for ducks), accepting eggs of species other than their own without hesitation, and raising the resulting chicks or ducklings with the same attentive mothering behaviour that makes them one of the few breeds genuinely valuable for natural hatching programs. In a farm context where incubators, brooders, and artificial hatching infrastructure are not available or not desired, a small group of Silkie hens provides a reliable natural hatching service for surplus eggs from other flocks.

Beyond the brooding value, Silkies are genuinely pleasant animals to keep. Their temperament is calm, sociable, and non-aggressive — often described as the most docile of all chicken breeds. They adapt well to children handling them, respond positively to regular human contact, and are rarely the source of aggression in a mixed flock. Their unusual appearance makes them conversation starters at any farm open day or school visit, and their tractable nature makes them appropriate demonstration animals for educational settings.

Production of 100 to 150 small cream eggs per year is modest, and the Silkie is not kept primarily for eggs. The small egg size (approximately 40 to 50 grams compared to 60 to 70 grams for a commercial layer) means fewer eggs from more feed per dozen, which makes a Silkie-only flock uneconomical as a production enterprise. In a mixed flock where the Silkie's role is specifically brooding and personality, the modest egg production is a bonus rather than the primary justification for keeping the breed.

Egg production of 100 to 150 small cream eggs per year — modest and not the primary reason for keeping the breed. The Silkie's production value is as a broody hen — it will reliably incubate and hatch eggs from other breeds, including ducks and turkeys, and raise the resulting young with attentive mothering. A single Silkie hen can hatch and raise 8 to 12 chicks per clutch and will typically go broody multiple times per year.

The Silkie's feathering requires specific management attention. The fluffy feathers absorb moisture and dry slowly — a wet Silkie in cool weather is at genuine hypothermia risk. Provide dry shelter that Silkies can access at any time, and check birds after rain to ensure no bird is soaked and unable to thermoregulate. The feathered head crest can obstruct vision, which makes Silkies more vulnerable to predators than clear-faced breeds and means they may need guidance to find feed and water when first introduced to a new pen. Trim the feathers over the eyes of birds with very dense crests to improve vision. The feathered feet accumulate mud and manure in wet conditions — check feet regularly and clean if necessary to prevent mite harbourage and skin problems.