Table of Contents
Make sure your chickens are old enough to lay. Silkies can start to lay at around 7 to 9 months of age, although some will not lay until they are much older. The older a silkie is when she begins to lay, the more eggs she is likely to produce.
How often does a silkie lay an egg?
How Often Do Silkies Lay Eggs? A silkie chicken can lay about 120 eggs per year, about 2-4 eggs per week.
How long does it take for silkie chickens to mature?
1) Silkies are naturally very slow to mature. It takes a silkie chick 5 – 8 months to reach maturity. In comparison, a meat/production bird is ready for market by 6 weeks of age. A 6-week old bantam silkie is just getting old enough to wean off of heat lamps and is about the size of a 2-week old LF bird.
At what age do silkie roosters start crowing?
Silkie roosters usually begin crowing at about 4-5 months of age. Just because all Silkie roosters can crow doesn’t mean they all start to crow at the same age. Some are known to start crowing as young as two months, while others may not crow until well after a year old.
Why arent my Silkies laying?
Silkies aren’t bred for laying ability and so will seem to be very poor layers compared to breeds that were bred strictly for egg production. They don’t lay eggs during this phase, so it contributes to their overall poor egg performance and it may drag on for a month or two before they start again.
How can you tell the age of a silkie?
Silkie hens or pullets generally mature around 8-10 months and cockerels about 10-12 months. They hit their full size around 4 to 5 months and get their first real adult set of feathers about this time as well. All chicks go through three partial and one full moult before they mature.
How many eggs a year do silkie chickens lay?
Silkies only lay roughly 100 to 120 eggs on a yearly basis and have been known to stop their egg-laying altogether in the heat of the summer months. Their eggs, while small, are still just as packed with nutrients and delicious taste as those of larger breeds of chicken.
How can you tell if a silkie is male or female?
It is quite difficult to tell the difference between male and female silkie chicks because they take longer to mature than most other chicken breeds; however, once they are mature, males (roosters) and females (hens) do have some distinct differences including: roosters tend to be larger than hens, the comb will be May 13, 2019.
How much are silkie chickens worth?
The cost of a silkie can vary greatly depending on the quality of breeding. A ‘show worthy’ silkie can cost up to $100, but backyard adult silkies will go for around $25. The initial investment will cost around $300-1000 for a coop and a few birds and thereafter ongoing costs are around $7-10 per month per bird.
What color egg do Silkies lay?
Their eggs are a white/cream color with occasional tinting. How many eggs do they lay? They are considered poor layers, giving only 2-3 eggs per week.
Can 2 silkie roosters live together?
That said, most backyard chicken breeds do fine in flocks with multiple roosters. Favorite breeds for roosters (and multiple roosters) include Salmon Faverolles, Plymouth Rocks, Marans, Orpingtons, Australorps, Silkies and Brahmas.
How much space does a silkie need?
Plan four square feet of run area per bantam Silkie; eight to ten square feet for heavier Silkies. Provide perches. Chickens like to roost sleeping with their feet off the ground. An old wooden ladder can work for large birds.
Can you brush silkie chickens?
Check the chickens regularly for parasites and lice. Once a week, brush through the silkies’ feathers. Look for any small, black or red moving dots in their skin or feathers. If you notice any mites, take your silkie to the vet.
Do male Silkies make a lot of noise?
The male Silkies are the loudest compared to the hens. Crowing is an essential part of every rooster’s life cycle, so you might as well be prepared for it.
Are Silkies aggressive?
Silkies are excellent pets, but some of them can be a little bit more aggressive than other chickens. Although these chickens are usually more docile than other breeds, they can still hurt you if they’re too aggressive.
At what age do Silkies stop laying?
Silkies will generally consistently lay their eggs for two years or so, then gradually their production will start to decline. A hen won’t simply one day stop laying eggs altogether.
What is the lifespan of a silkie chicken?
7-9 Years Breed Expected Lifespan Popularity Silkie 7-9 Years #2 Plymouth Rock 8-10 Years #3 Orpington 8-10 Years #4 Leghorn 4-6 Years #5.
Do Silkies like to cuddle?
Silkie chickens are famous for their docile, sweet and nurturing temperament. Silkies don’t mind getting up close and personal with their human friends, in fact, they quite like being cuddled, kissed and groomed, making them eggcellent pets for young children.
What is a blue Silkie?
The Blue Silkie Bantam is a gorgeous variety of the Silkie Bantam breed, miniature chickens that originated in China and Japan. Blue Silkie Bantam chicks are blue with white wing tips and some white on the neck. Their bones, skin, beak, legs and toes are black.
What does a male Silkie look like?
Silkie roosters are larger than hens. They have larger and rounder wattles, and their combs are larger and shaped differently: These fleshy growths on adult male Silkies’ heads feature extensions that are like streamers; they appear swept back rather than rounded. Roosters also have spurs.
When can Silkies go outside?
Bantam Chicks can be moved permanently to an outside coop from 6 weeks of age, provided they are fully feathered and the coop is sheltered, free from draughts and dry.
