Silkie Chickens: Fluffy, Gentle and Famously Broody

Silkies are gentle, fluffy chickens with dark skin, feathered feet, five toes and a soft crest. Their fur-like feathers can't fly and don't shed rain, so they need a dry, covered run and low perches. They lay small eggs and go broody often, which makes them great mothers. They're friendly with children and need company, like all hens.

All fluff, no flight.

What makes a Silkie different.

Silkie at a glance
Look	Fluffy, fur-like feathers; crest; feathered feet; five toes
Skin	Dark, almost black, under the fluff
Size	Large fowl and bantam in the UK; a bantam breed in the US
Character	Calm, gentle, good with careful children
Eggs	Small, cream-colored; laying pauses when broody
Needs	Dry, covered run; low perches; company

What Makes a Silkie a Silkie

Silkie feathers lack the tiny hooks that hold normal feathers together, which gives them their fluffy, fur-like look. It also means Silkies can't fly and aren't waterproof. Under the fluff they have dark, almost black skin, and they have five toes rather than the usual four, feathered feet and a soft pom-pom crest. They come in many colors, white and black being the best known.

In the UK, the Poultry Club of Great Britain recognizes Silkies in both large fowl and bantam sizes; in the US they're shown as a bantam breed. Either way, they're small birds.

Character and Family Life

Silkies are known for being calm and gentle, which makes them popular with families. Most tolerate careful handling well. Because they're small and mild, they can be bullied by bigger, bolder breeds, so mix them only with other calm birds, and watch closely at first.

Like all chickens, Silkies need company: keep at least three.

Broodiness: The Silkie Superpower

Silkies are famous for going broody, sitting tight on a nest to hatch eggs, and they'll happily sit on eggs from other hens or even ducks. Keepers often use them as foster mothers. A broody hen stops laying, eats and drinks less, and needs checking each day to make sure she gets off the nest to eat, drink and take a dust bath.

If you don't want chicks, collect eggs daily and ask an experienced keeper about gently breaking the broody spell. If you do want chicks, think first about homes for any cockerels.

Housing for a Bird Without Waterproofing

Keep them dry: a roofed run and dry ground matter more for Silkies than most breeds. A soaked Silkie gets cold quickly.
Low perches or none: they can't fly up, and many prefer to sleep on clean bedding in a corner.
Clean, dry bedding: feathered feet pick up mud and droppings.
Crest care: a big crest can block their view. Some keepers trim feathers around the eyes; ask an experienced keeper to show you how.
Predators: small, slow and unable to fly, Silkies need a fully secure run (see predator-proofing).

The Law: Rules Differ by Country

Even a few pet hens can come with legal duties, mainly so that officials can reach keepers during a bird flu outbreak. Check what applies where you live before the birds arrive.

United Kingdom: In England and Wales you must register with APHA within one month of keeping poultry, whatever the number of birds and even if they are pets (see registering a small flock on gov.uk). Scotland has its own kept-bird register, and Northern Ireland keepers register with DAERA. During outbreaks, bird flu housing orders and prevention zones apply to backyard flocks too.
United States: There is no federal registration for backyard flocks, but city or county zoning often limits numbers, roosters and coop placement, and some states ask for premises registration. Your state department of agriculture or state veterinarian can tell you what applies.
Elsewhere: Ireland requires every poultry keeper, even with one or two birds, to register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Canada (CFIA and your province), Australia (your state or territory agriculture department) and New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries) have their own rules, especially during bird flu outbreaks.

Kitchen scraps: don't feed kitchen scraps to poultry. In the UK and the EU it is illegal, even for pet hens and even for vegetable leftovers, and many other countries restrict it because food waste can spread serious animal diseases.

Rules change, so check with your national authority before you buy.

Gear for Silkies

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A small coop with a low entrance and a covered run keeps Silkies dry. Absorbent bedding keeps feathered feet clean, and a low roosting bar suits birds that can't fly up. A covered dust-bath tray lets them bathe in any weather, and small-size layer pellets suit their beaks.

Health Basics

Silkies' thick, fluffy feathers make mites and lice easy to miss, so part the feathers and check the skin regularly. Ask the breeder which vaccinations the birds have had, register with a vet who sees poultry, and keep new birds apart from your flock for a couple of weeks.

Vaccines, mite and worm treatments: see your vet or a pet supply store with trained staff. They can tell you what suits Silkies and where you live.

Frequently Asked Questions

What people ask about Silkies.

Can Silkies fly?

No. Their feathers lack the hooks that hold normal feathers together, so they can't fly, which also means they can't escape predators by flying up.

Are Silkies good with children?

Usually, yes. They're calm and gentle and tolerate careful handling well. Supervise young children and teach them to hold hens properly.

Do Silkies lay many eggs?

They lay small cream eggs, but fewer than hybrid layers, and they stop laying while broody, which is often.

Can Silkies live with other chickens?

Yes, with calm breeds. Bigger, bolder hens may bully them, so introduce them slowly and watch.

Do Silkies need a covered run?

It's strongly recommended. Their feathers aren't waterproof, so a soaked Silkie gets cold fast, and they can't fly away from predators.

Why does my Silkie keep sitting in the nest box?

She's probably broody. Collect eggs daily, make sure she leaves the nest to eat and drink, and ask an experienced keeper for advice if you don't want chicks.