Are all silkies bantams?

[dave27889]

I have never seen one in real life. I see that a lot of people like them to hatch out nonsitter chicken eggs. I was wondering wouldn't you need a full size hen to hatch a clutch of say RIR eggs? Let me hear from you. Who knows maybe I will pick up a couple of silkies. My daughter thinks they are cute. Thanks, Dave27889

[robin416]

Here in the states Bantam is the only size Silkie available. But Silkies are almost double the size of OE's or Dutch, so that bantam designation is a bit misleading. Using a Silkie girl for more than six LF eggs is probably a stretch but they are pretty dedicated setters and Moms.

[dave27889]

Thanks a lot. I think I will look localy and see if I can find a couple.

[robin416]

If your birds free range at all look for the non bearded. I have personal experience at how little peripheral vision the beardeds have.

[destiny_56085]

My name is Amy Piehl and I am the district 3 representative for the American Silkie Bantam Club. Maybe I can help with a few questions. Feel free to e-mail me privately too if you are more comfortable with that. The SOP calls for the cocks to be roughly 36 oz. and the hens to be 32 oz. Most of the girls are about 8" and the boys are about 12" tall. This will vary greatly depending on the bloodline. There is a great variation in size of crests, foot feathering, down length, etc. Some of them look huge to be classified as bantams, but when you get your hands on them there really isn't much to them but feathers. The showbirds are bred to have such huge crests and beards that they can't see much of anything. Some of that naturally gets pulled out from having multiple birds in a pen or can be trimmed. You will find that this is probably the most nurturing breed out there. They are constantly going broody and even the roosters will share the duty of rearing chicks. They aren't the most hardy though. They generally don't roost and can barely hop up on a hay bale. They are highly subject to predation. All that fluff also leaves them highly vulnerable to lice and mites too. Overall you won't find a better breed for your kids to be around. Roosters are rarely mean. They can't fly or run very fast. You are welsome to take a look at any of mine. I have pics posted of both my young and old birds of various colors. http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d196/destiny_56085/

[Pathfinders]

Roosters are rarely mean. They can't fly or run very fast.

I am always amused when my daughters one snotty Silkie cock bird tries to take a run at me, he can't see very well, and I can always avoid them. They are my kids birds (I feed them, but they aren't mine.) We try very hard to stick to the Standard, especially in terms of size, weight, and crest makeup. IMO some birds at shows have gone 'way overboard in regards to crest size, and I'd love it if it weren't just Whites Whites Whites who won all the time (although my kids did win CH Featherleg with a Splash pullet at the Bluegrass show, with an enlightened judge at the helm, thank goodness.)

They are generally good setters (some would set rocks if you let them), but I do my hatching with incubators, so can't comment on it personally.

Laura

[Rhea Dean Carter]

Some of the Silkie cocks are mean. I had a white cock a couple of years ago that would tear my arms up. For the most part, they're docile; but there is always the exception. He now belongs to a friend of mine.

Whenever possible, I allow my hens to set and hatch chicks. I'd much rather have them hatch and raise chicks. I currently have a white hen sitting on three buff Plymouth Rock eggs.

Rhea Dean

[destiny_56085]

I usually use incubators too. Their are times when the silkies get to lend a hand too though. For some odd reason I have a heck of a time hatching peafowl eggs in the incubators. They will start to develop and die about halfway through. If I have a broody hen, I'll sneak about 3 eggs under her and usually get all the fertile ones to go all the way.

I will also agree with Laura on the trend for the gigantic crest sizes. Ten years ago you would see them with lil golf ball sized poofs. You could see their eyes and they didn't have many problems getting around. Now most of the good ones have tennis ball sized crests and you have to pluck feathers to see their eyes. I was at some shows this fall and there were some that were approaching grapefruit sized. They have to keep them taped or ponytailed up in between shows. The whites usually dominate in the show ring, but other colors are coming close. At one of our fall shows with over 70 silkies entered, a black pullet took BB for once. I could have swore George did really well at nationals with a splash cock too.

[tinag210]

I usually use an incubator, but have also used a couple of silkies for my peafowl eggs. I have never put more than 3 under a hen since they are large eggs, but they seem to cover 3 fine. As those before me have said they are very gentle and will mother anything. I have also used them to incubate guinea and pheasant eggs when my incubator was full. Left the guineas with the hen to brood them but had to take the pheasant away as they tended to scatter like they couldn't understand "mom".

[Neil E. Grassbaugh]

I am always amused when my daughters one snotty Silkie cock bird tries to take a run at me, he can't see very well, and I can always avoid them. They are my kids birds (I feed them, but they aren't mine.) We try very hard to stick to the Standard, especially in terms of size, weight, and crest makeup. IMO some birds at shows have gone 'way overboard in regards to crest size, and I'd love it if it weren't just Whites Whites Whites who won all the time (although my kids did win CH Featherleg with a Splash pullet at the Bluegrass show, with an enlightened judge at the helm, thank goodness.) I heard that the Jr. judge was prodded into doing the job.

They are generally good setters (some would set rocks if you let them), but I do my hatching with incubators, so can't comment on it personally.

Laura

And a fine one she was.



I find Silkies very hard to get a good picture of because of the constant head shaking. Due to the skull charachteristics the crested breeeds can be excused for some of this. However head shaking (when not the result of ear mites) non crested breeds are a great annoyance to photograph.

When judging I have had to leave what I thought were probably very fine birds out of consideration for higher placement due to head shaking. Some of them you just can't see what they got due to this annoying mannerism.

[Pathfinders]

I honestly think some of the head shaking in the crested breeds is an attempt to see. I know mine don't have mites (the wonders of modern chemistry!) and think it's not likely they're any more brain damaged than any other Silkie. I just think they're trying to toss their hair out of their eyes so they can see (envisioning a silly teen who won't put her hair behind her ears.)

[robin416]

I kept thinking, what is he talking about. Mine don't shake their heads incessantly. I think its the show hall noise especially for the young birds just being brought in to all the new noise and the poof keeping them from seeing where that noise is originating.