Have you ever seen a chicken that looks like a little black teddy bear walking around your yard? That’s exactly what my first Black Silkie reminded me of!
I got my first pair about four years ago, and honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. These birds are something else entirely. Their black feathers are so soft and fluffy, nothing like the regular chickens I grew up around on my grandmother’s farm.
What hooked me on Black Silkies? They’re just so darn friendly and calm.
My kids can pick them up and carry them around without any fuss. Try that with a Rhode Island Red! The Black Silkies seem to enjoy the attention. Sometimes I’ll find my daughter sitting in the grass with one of them just perched on her lap.
The thing that surprised me most? How their black feathers almost look purple or green when the sun hits them just right. And those five toes – I still chuckle when I see them walking around like they’re wearing little snowshoes.
Are they more work than regular chickens? In some ways, yes. Their fluffy feathers can get messy, and they’re not the best at staying clean on their own.
But watching these little characters waddle around my backyard has become one of my favorite parts of the day. They each have their personality, and they seem to recognize me when I come outside.
Are you thinking about getting some Black Silkies for your backyard?
Here’s everything I wish someone had told me before I started.
What is a Black Silkie Chicken?
What Makes Black Silkie Chickens So Special?
What Do Black Silkie Chickens Look Like?
What Makes Black Silkies’ Skin and Bones Black?
What Is the Temperament of Black Silkie Chickens?
How Do Black Silkies Act Around People?
How Big Do Black Silkie Chickens Get?
What Is the Lifespan of a Black Silkie Chicken?
Do Black Silkies Lay Eggs?
Can You Eat Black Silkies for Meat?
Can You Show Black Silkie Chickens?
What is the Black Silkies Breed Standard?
What Are the Unique Features of Black Silkie Feathers?
How Do You Care for a Black Silkie Chicken?
Are Black Silkies Good as Pets?
Why Do People Love Silkies?
Should You Keep Black Silkies in a Mixed Flock?
What is a Black Silkie Chicken?
Silkie chickens have different varieties, like White, Black, Buff, Splash, and so on. Black Silkies is one of them. These are the black-colored silkie type and feathery chickens have a different appearance from other types of breeds.
What Makes Black Silkie Chickens So Special?
I remember the first time I saw a Black Silkie – honestly thought someone had put a fluffy black cotton ball in the chicken coop! These little birds are nothing like regular chickens you see today. After years of raising different chicken breeds, I can tell you that Black Silkies are uniquely weird in the best way possible.
What makes them so special? Well, they’ve got blue skin under all that black plumage, plus extra toes that most chickens don’t have. My kids love pointing out their blue earlobes – it’s like they’re wearing tiny jewelry! If you want to discover something truly unusual and you’re in the right place to start keeping chickens, Silkie breeds are renowned for having several differentiating qualities including being super friendly. Rest assured, once you know what makes them different, you’ll understand why more people are getting into these available unusual breeds with experience.
What Do Black Silkie Chickens Look Like?
Black Silkies have soft feathers that look like teddy bears in black coats. They walk in a backyard coop that looks like clicking beats and produces musical sensations in the mind of a person, who notices them.
What Makes Black Silkies’ Skin and Bones Black?
When I first processed my Black Silkie for dinner years ago, I was shocked to see dark skin and bones inside. This type of characteristic is not only in Silkie chickens – the Ayam Cemani bird has it too. What makes them so grateful compared to other chickens is something called fibro melanosis, which means extra black pigmentation throughout their body.
Researchers from Uppsala University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, North Carolina State University, and National Chung-Hsing University investigated this genetic basis in a study published in PLoS Genetics. They found that a complex genetic rearrangement causes dermal hyperpigmentation by giving space and raising which affects extra pigment cell growth. Post-doctoral researcher Ben Dorshorst helped look at how Endothelin 3 gene expression affects pigmentation.
This genetic change makes their internal organs, skin, and bones turn black or slate blue. Their body parts are dark, and their combs and wattles stay red or mulberry-colored, which makes it interesting for a person who looks at them. Their beaks and legs turn deep blue-grey, and facial skin becomes grey in most varieties.
The chicken breeds that are close to Silkies share this trait, which shows them how known feathers and body color work together in these special birds.
What Is the Temperament of Black Silkie Chickens?
How Do Black Silkies Act Around People?
My Black Silkie chickens are sweethearts – they follow me around the yard like little fluffy friends.
No one can say they are hard, their looks feel friendly. These birds are perfect for families, even though they are great choices for children because they’re so friendly. My daughter loves it when they cuddle up on her lap waiting for treats.
What I love about having them as a companion is how happy and cute they get around the young ones. Most chicken breeds run away, but Silkies are different – they’re inquisitive and come right up to you. Their docile nature and excellent disposition make them great pets.
But here’s the thing – I have to keep a close eye on them with my mixed-breed flock. Other birds can be mean to them, and Black Silkie roosters just won’t fight back. They get picked on because they can’t scratch or defend themselves well with those fluffy feathers.
I learned the hard way to make sure I keep them separate from more aggressive breeds. These special birds need someone looking out for them to stay safe and happy.
How Big Do Black Silkie Chickens Get?
My Black Silkies are tiny little things! The girls weigh about 2-3 pounds, and my rooster is maybe 4 pounds on a good day. They are smaller than normal chickens – the perfect size for kids to carry and enjoy easily.
What Is the Lifespan of a Black Silkie Chicken?
Their lifespan is the same as silkies, as they are the variety of that breed. Almost all of the chickens of that breed have the same lifespan.
Do Black Silkies Lay Eggs?
My Black Silkies are poor layers compared to regular layer hens – they only give me about 100-120 small eggs per year. These true bantam birds lay tiny white eggs that are cute but not very practical. Most people choose to keep them as pets rather than for egg production.
What’s funny is how broody my Silkie hens get – they’ll sit on anything trying to hatch it! I’ve seen them try to hatch Silkie eggs and even eggs of other poultry in the coop. Since they’re considered a dual-purpose bird, some folks raise them for both eggs and meat, but honestly, their small size makes them better show birds.
I have seen in my journey, that this breed is a crowd favorite due to its unique look. People love these small chicken breeds more for their looks and personality than their egg-laying ability.
Can You Eat Black Silkies for Meat?
I processed my first Black Silkie chicken years ago and was surprised by how different the meat looked. In China and other Asian countries, these birds are a real delicacy – people make special broth when someone’s unwell because they believe the black skin has medicinal value.
The taste is way richer and gamier than any broiler chicken I’ve had from the store. Even what should be white meat looks like dark meat because of all that pigmentation in their skin and bones. It’s completely different from an ordinary broiler you’d buy at the supermarket.
Here’s the thing though – Silkies are small compared to Cornish or other production breeds. They don’t grow to much adult weight or adult height, so you’re not getting a lot of meat per bird. While they’re great easy-keepers that do well free-range, they’re not practical like commercial broilers.
Most Oriental countries still raise these chickens for table fare, but they mature slowly compared to regular meat birds. That’s why most people here keep these breeds as backyard pets instead of for production.
Can You Show Black Silkie Chickens?
Silkies are the best chicken to show in any exhibition or in shows. Their fluffy appearance makes them friendly and beautiful to look at, which makes them the best birds to show people around.
What is the Black Silkies Breed Standard?
When I notice my Black Silkies at shows, I look for some of the specific things that make them perfect. They are small and compact with a rounded body that sits low between their legs. Their head makes a big fluffy crest like a cotton ball, and their comb looks walnut-shaped.
The most important part is their five toes while regular chickens have only four. Their skin and bones must be dark blue-black at the bottom to all those silky feathers. The feathers should feel soft like silk, not stiff like normal chicken feathers.
Their legs should be dark-colored and well-feathered, and they need to walk with a proud, lively attitude that shows off their personality.
What Are the Unique Features of Black Silkie Feathers?
Black silkies are unique and differ from other varieties of silkies by their color code. Their black look makes them graceful in the backyard and from other types of chicken breeds.
How Do You Care for a Black Silkie Chicken?
If you talk about the care and maintenance of black silkies, it is similar to other varieties of silkies. As all varieties of this breed have similar traits and characteristics, they need the same type of care and maintenance plan. You can read about the care and maintenance of silkies by clicking here.
Are Black Silkies Good as Pets?
Yes, they make good pets. They have friendly behavior with others and more than that they are even good in the family. They can make good pets. I am sure they would be friends of yours if you kept them as pets.
Why do people love silkies?
People are crazy because they are pets like teddy bears that lay eggs. Their crazy look and fluffy feathers make them tempting to visitors and also attracted to kids.
Should You Keep Black Silkies in a Mixed Flock?
Yeah! These fluffy and friendly type breeds can mix well with other types of chicken. The problem is that when you keep with other breeds, the most harsh and aggressive breed can harm them due to their small size and soft and fluffy feathers!