Silkie Chickens: The New Zealand Keeper's Guide
~100 cream eggs a year · Bantam · the fluffy, broody favourite
The Silkie is unmistakable: fluffy, fur-like plumage, dark skin, blue earlobes and five toes. It is a small, affectionate ornamental breed and the go-to broody hen in New Zealand for hatching other breeds' eggs.
Eggs and laying
Around 100 small cream eggs a year. Silkies are not kept for laying so much as for their charm and their famous willingness to sit.
Temperament
Exceptionally gentle, calm and affectionate, often the friendliest bird in any flock and a favourite with children. They sit happily on a lap.
New Zealand climate fit
The fluffy plumage offers little protection from rain and is not waterproof, so Silkies need a dry coop and run. They feel cold and wet badly, which is the key New Zealand consideration.
Care notes
Need dry housing and protection from wet, and their feathered crests and feet want keeping clean. Their broodiness makes them invaluable for hatching eggs.
More breeds
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Silkies good layers?
No, around 100 small eggs a year. They are kept for their gentle nature, their looks and above all their willingness to go broody and raise chicks.
Why are Silkies used to hatch eggs?
They go broody readily and are devoted, patient mothers, so keepers slip other breeds' eggs under a sitting Silkie to hatch and rear them.
Do Silkies need special care?
Yes, mainly staying dry. Their fluffy plumage is not waterproof, so they need a dry coop and run, particularly through a wet New Zealand winter.