Silkie rooster is one of the chicken breeds that has been known by different names like fluff-balls, teddy bears, aliens from other world and many other like these.
Anyhow, silkies are unusual looking chickens. If you want to know more about silkie roosters then this detailed article is for you.
What Is A Silkie Rooster Chicken?
Silkie rooster chicken is one of the breeds of the chickens named for its fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. Silkie rooster is an ancient breed, probably of Chinese origin.
| Lifespan | Silkie rooster chicken has an average lifespan of 8 to 9 years. |
| Crowing age | The crowing age of the silkie rooster starts from three months of age. Silkies are as young as two months old have been known to grow. |
| Size | Silkie has lightweight. Males weigh around 1.8 kg, and females weigh 1.3 kg. |
| Colour | Silkie roosters come in various colours and patterns. For instance: Black, Blue, Grey, White, Splash, Buff, Partridge |
| Types | The Silkie chicken has two distinct varieties, which are Bearded and Not-Bearded. The bearded type has an extra muff of feathers under the beak area, which covers the earlobes. |
| Cost | The price of a silkie rooster depends upon the size and place where you are living. For instance, a silkie chick almost $15* to $10* while a hen costs $50* to $25*. |
Silkie rooster spurs
Sikie roosters are larger in size than hens, and they do have spurs. All male chicken has grown spurs just like other chickens. However, the size and growth of spurs depend upon the breed of the Silkie.
Also, just like other breeds, their spurs can vary significantly in how long and sharp they are. As well as at what age they will start to grow.
Silkie rooster temperament
If you are thinking to buy a silkie rooster, you might question the temperament of this chicken. If yes, then this section is for you. Here are the highlighting characteristics and temperament of silkie rooster:
- Silkie rooster is calm, friendly, and trusting.
- They can’t fly so that they can be kept under a low fencing.
- Silkie roosters do little or no damage at all to the garden if they are given free access.
- These are not good layers.
- They lay a tinted color egg with a few creams, but Silkie roosters are great mothers and go broody frequently.
- Silkie roosters are happy to hatch the eggs of other birds. So, they are frequently used as foster mothers for other birds.
- Male silkie roosters are boosier than female ones, their posture is upright, and they are generally more active.
- As the male silkie roosters grow up, they become aggressive, but they are not among the most aggressive chicken breeds.
Silkie rooster’s characteristics
Silkie rooster is one of the famous and beloved chicken breeds. This breed is also known as ‘Silkie’. It is named Silkie because of its typically fluffy plumage that is said to feel like silk. It has hair-like plumage that is considered actual mammalian fur.
Here are some of the characteristics of silkie roosters:
- Unique and beautiful looking bird
- Lightweight chicken breed with a broad, stout looking body covered with fine fluffy feathers
- Their plumage lacks barbicels.
- It comes in different colours like white, black, partridge, blue, buff, and grey.
- Have walnut comb, which is a deep mulberry approaching black
Is my Silkie a rooster?
Silkie roosters are different from hens, and there are several characteristics by which you can identify them.
For instance, crowing is a sign that indicates a chicken is a rooster. But it does not start until maturity, around eight months of age or a little earlier.
Silkie roosters are more significant than hens. They also have more extensive, rounder wattles, and their combs are more prominent and shaped differently.
If you find all these characteristics in your Silkie, you can indeed say that your Silkie is a rooster.
Silkie Rooster Weight: How big does a Silkie rooster get?
If you are thinking to get a silkie rooster, you must know how big it can get. There are two sizes of Silkie:
Miniature or bantam Silkie
The miniature or bantam Silkie is small, with the males topping the scale at 600 g (22 ozs) and hens at 500 g (18 ozs).
Standard fowl
The Standard fowl weighs around 1.8 kg (4 lbs) for the males and the hens at 1.36 kg (3 kg).
How long do Silkie roosters live?
Do you want to know how long does a silkie rooster live? If yes, then this subheading is for you. A standard male silkie rooster lives between 6 to 10 years. Moreover, the age of a silkie rooster depends upon the way someone looked after it.
Keep your silkie rooster range and stress-free, and that’s how they will have a long, happy life.
How can you tell if a Silkie is male or female?
It is pretty tricky to tell whether your Silkie is a male or a female. The reason behind this is that silkies take a longer time to mature than other chicken breeds. However, once they are mature, you can easily differentiate by identifying the characteristics, whether male or female.
What does a silkie chicken look like?
Silkie’s appearance is different from the regular chicken. The head is crested just like a ‘pom-pom’ (just like the polish chicken). If a comb is there, it should be like a walnut (almost circular in appearance).
Silkies have oval-shaped turquoise blue earlobes and dark-coloured wattles. Their beak is short, quite broad from the base, and grey/blue; however, their eyes are black.
Their bodies are broad and stout while back is short, and breast is entire. Silkies have five toes instead of the usual four found in chickens. The outer two toes are feathered. Their legs are short and wide-set, grey.
If the feathers of the Silkie don’t hold together, it means they can’t fly.
Are Silkie roosters aggressive?
If you are keeping a silkie rooster in the flock, you must ask this question: Are silkie roosters aggressive?
Silkie roosters can defend their flock. And yes, they are perfectly capable of being aggressive both to other chickens and you.
However, in a survey, when it was asked from the owners of chickens, they said that Silkie are aggressive, but they are not among the most aggressive breeds of the chicken.
They are undoubtedly calm and have a docile temperament compared to the Cornish or the Old English Game Fowl – two species known for being aggressive.
What is the friendliest rooster breed?
Orpington is one of the friendliest rooster breeds among all the breeds. They are known for their gentleness. They are protective of their flocks and escort them everywhere to help them find tidbits. They are also laid back and mellow with humans. They eat from their owner’s hands only if any female has eaten first.
This heavy, docile breed has friendly personalities. Weighing in around 7-8 ½ pounds. This chicken breed is also a dual-purpose, which means is great for meat purpose too.
Do Silkie Chickens Make Good Pets?
As discussed in the above headings of the article, silkie roosters have fluffy plumage, due to which they are unable to fly. Keeping in view this characteristic, silkie chickens are easy to make pets. The reason behind this is that they are easier to contain.
Moreover, silkies are known for their friendly and calm behaviour that makes them good pet.
Pros and Cons of having a pet silkie chicken
Every pet animal has its pros and cons depending upon its characteristics and behaviour. Before getting any pet animal, one needs to know about the merits and demerits of having that animal. Here, we are discussing silkie roosters, so here are some of the cons and pros of a silkie rooster:
Pros of having a silkie chicken
- One of the pros of this chicken breed is its friendly behavior. They are known for their friendly behavior, and they appreciate the attention and enjoy the company of their owner.
- Silkie chickens are furry and fluffy because they don’t have barbs to hold them down.
- Silkie chickens can be kept in an apartment easily that makes them a good pet.
- They are excellent mothers
Cons of having a silkie chicken
- Silkie chickens are not perfect egg-laying chicken breeds. If you want a chicken to lay more eggs yearly, then getting a silkie is not a good choice.
- Silkie chickens have a slight weather problem. It is challenging to keep them in wet weather.
- Silkie chickens can be last in the pecking order. They are calm, gentle and trusting by nature; that’s why other chickens in the flock can bully them.
- Silkie chickens are prone to predators. That is why it is not recommended to keep your Silkie outside your apartment.
Silkie Chicken Care
Caring for your pet is the core responsibility of an owner if he wants to spend quality time.
Just like other chicken breeds, silkie chickens are also kept in a dry and warm place. Their feathers get wet easily, and they become chilled quickly. Sometimes, extra toes and feather feet can also be an issue.
Do Silkies need special care?
Yes, silkies need special care when they are young. Because at a young age, silkies are more fragile. Keep your Silkie in a dry and warm place to keep it safe from any complication.
How do you keep silkies clean?
You can keep your Silkie clean by shampoo it in a tub of warm water and then rinse it with some clean water. Just rub the shampoo through the feather gently.
Do silkie hens have combs?
Yes, silkie hens have combs. They are primarily dark-purple, black. They have walnut-shaped combs.
Do Silkie hens lay eggs?
Yes, silkie hens lay eggs but in a moderate amount. They are excellent layers of large-sized eggs, unlike most chicken breeds.
Silkies can lay eggs when they are around 7 to 9 months old. However, some silkies start laying at an older age.
How often do Silkies lay eggs?
Silkie chickens have been known to lay around 100 to 120 eggs a year, not a significant number of eggs per year considering all the other breeds.
What colour egg do Silkies lay? Silkies are considered backyard chickens, and they lay white and cream-coloured that are entirely safe to eat.
Can roosters be kept together?
Yes, the rooster can be kept together, and they coexist peacefully. Because of their kind, calm, and friendly nature, they can be easily kept together.
How many Silkie roosters can you have together?
Most people say that the optimal ratio of keeping a silkie rooster is 10, but this varies with the breed. However, as a general rule of thumb, one should keep one silkie rooster in a flock, but it depends on the species.
Can you have two Silkie roosters together? Yes, you can have two silkie roosters together. However, one rooster with 3 to 4 hens is a good ratio.
Silkie Rooster Mating – What age do Silkie roosters mate?
Silkie roosters are easy to be kept as pets, but they are notoriously challenging to mate until around six months old.
Why do roosters die after mating?
Sometimes, roosters die after mating for up to 14 hours at a time. This is the primary reason for their sudden death. Elevate stress level causes a fatal immune system, and this is how rooster dies after mating.
Do Silkie roosters mate with other chickens? Yes, Silkie roosters mate with other chickens too.
Silkie Chickens – Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about silkie chickens:
Can a rooster mate with a turkey?
Yes, a rooster can mate with a turkey, but this is a rare occasion.
Can a duck and a rooster mate?
Yes, a duck and rooster can successfully mate, but the chances of the breed are meagre. When a rooster mates with a duck, the rooster’s sperm usually do not make it to a female duck.
Do Silkie roosters crow loudly?
Yes, silkie rooster crow. They start crowing at the age of 3 months. However, some silkie roosters crow loudly while some don’t crow at all.
How cold is too cold for silkie chickens?
Silkie chickens have soft feathers, and they must be kept in a dry and warm place. Silkies can only bear cold weather between 0 F or -18 C with protection from the elements and cold winds.
Can silkies get wet?
Just like other chicken breeds, silkies also need fresh water every day. And yes, silkies can get wet. However, freezing water can lead to the sudden death of your pet.
Do Silkies like to cuddle?
Due to their friendly and calm behaviour, silkies like to cuddle. This chicken breed is famous for its loving temperament. That’s why they don’t mind getting close with humans as well.
How often do silkies go broody?
Most of the silkies go broody once a year. Silkies don’t go broody often. If you don’t want to deal with a broody hen, then silkies are not that one type.
Can you eat Silkie roosters?
Yes definitely! You can eat silkie rooster’s meat, but it tastes a little more potent than the original meat.
Are Silkie eggs good eating?
Silkie’s egg is good, and you can devour them. Silkie roosters wander and eat all sorts of greenery and insects that improves the taste of the eggs.
Do Silkie chicken eggs taste good?
Yes, silkie chicken eggs are good at taste because of the variety of diet that they eat.
Final Thoughts
Silkie roosters are known for their fluffy plumage. Also known for their spirituality, roosters are considered the sign of freedom, success, dawn, and hope.
The world of chickens is full of information but knowing the accuracy is essential.
After knowing all the facts about the silkie rooster, can I get a silkie rooster if someone asks?
My answer will be yes! Silkies are one of the best breeds of chicken, and due to their loving nature, they are the best pet to be kept.
This detailed article has highlighted all the characteristics of silkie rooster, behavior, appearance and much more.
Questions related to their eggs and how can you identify whether your chicken is a silkie rooster or not are answered in this article.
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