New Zealand Introduced Animals > Silkies

Silkies

Introduced

ORIGIN: Silkies are believed to have originated from China. The exact date is not known but it is documented that Marco Polo saw these fur covered, dark skinned creatures during his journeys in China in the 13th century.

BREED DISCRIPTION: Soft fluffy feathering, they have blue skin and five toes. White tends to be the dominant colour but occasionally they can be found in black, blue and gold.

USE IN NEW ZEALAND: Eggs, show and brooding.

GENERAL: Silkie hens are among the best to use as broodies if you want to hatch your eggs out under hens. Silkies lay between 50 and 120 cream to brown colored eggs (there is some work done to breed silkies that lay blue colored eggs) a year. Silkie get broody often (which is the main reason for poor egg production) and make great mothers. Even roosters have been known to steal broods of chicks to raise themselves.


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