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If you want a chicken that lays lots of eggs, the Silkie is not your bird. They are considered poor layers averaging 2-3 small eggs each week – around 100-120 eggs per year.
How often do Silkie lay eggs?
How Often Do Silkies Lay Eggs? A silkie chicken can lay about 120 eggs per year, about 2-4 eggs per week.
How many eggs does a silkie chicken lay a week?
What is this? While not record setters for egg-laying, Silkies are generally consistent through most of the year. They tend to each lay about 3 eggs per week. They are more likely than other chickens to lay eggs through cold winters because of their fluffy feathers keeping them warm and content.
How many eggs does a Silkie have?
Silkies can lay a fair number of eggs in a year but laying is often interrupted because of their tendency to go broody. A Silkie hen might produce 100 to 120 eggs in an ideal year.
How long do Silkies lay eggs for?
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.
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.
Can you mix Silkies with other chickens?
A: Yes, in most cases you can mix breeds of chicken in your flock. Interestingly, in our experience, Silkies usually get on well with other chicken breeds, despite their unusual plumage, presuming you have several (and not just one lone “different” bird).
What Colour eggs 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.
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.
Can Silkies lay blue eggs?
except for breeds and varieties like Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, and Araucanas, which lay blue or green eggs. Then there is the Silkie. The hens lay light brown or nearly white eggs, while their earlobes are blue.
Can you eat Silkie chicken?
Silkies are very tame and gentle, making good pets. Hens are often assigned to hatching the eggs and tending the chicks of less attentive birds. They are, however, also widely eaten in East and Southeast Asia and are considered to have strong medicinal powers.
Are silkies hard to keep alive?
Silkies aren’t hard to keep alive, but they need special attention and care. These fluffy birds make adorable pets, and children love to keep them because they’re warm and cuddly. Special attention should be given to the feathers to make sure that the chickens are feeling more comfortable.
What age do Silkies lay eggs?
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.
Why do silkies stop laying eggs?
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.
Are all silkies bantams?
Silkies are considered a bantam breed in some countries, but this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl. ALL Silkies began as bantams. Large fowl were bred up from the bantam.
Do Silkies need special care?
Do Silkies need special care? Yes a little special care is required for Silkie chickens. The feathers wet easily and the birds can become chilled if this happens. The extra toes and feather feet can sometimes be an issue.
Do Silkie Chickens like to be held?
Silkies are gentle, kind birds who love company and adore being held and fussed over.
Are Silkies noisy?
Silkie hens are not any louder than any other breed. However, the roosters have a habit of crowing at the worst time, making it hard to sleep hard or angering your neighbors. Crowing is a natural part of owning chickens.
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.
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.
How big do Silkie hens get?
Silkies in America are fairly small (about the size of a rabbit). They are all called bantams (a term that means “miniature chickens”), and in general, they are between 8-14 inches tall.
