You're here to find out more about Silkie eggs, right? In addition to being adorable, fluffy chickens can also lay eggs for you and your family, which is what makes them such popular family pets.
Silkies are known for their silky or satin-like plumage. They differ from regular chickens because of their feathering. Silkies are also unusual in that their skin is black, their earlobes are blue, and they cannot fly.
Their cheeky looks, friendly disposition, docile nature, and adaptability make Silkie chickens a charming head-turner for their owners. You cannot go wrong with these fluffy beauties if you are looking for an unusual and special chook for your backyard flock.
On his famous and fateful 13th century travels, Marco Polo encountered what he called a "furry chicken" and described it as a Silkie chicken.
The second mention of Silkies is made by Ulisse Aldrovandi, a celebrated Italian author, in his treatise on chickens, where he calls them "chickens with hair like black cats".
The place where Silkies first scratched around cannot be pinpointed with 100 percent accuracy. Although they are dotted across Asia, we know their history is long and complex. The Silkie name is probably derived from the Silk Road, where they were traded.
Once these diminutive chickens made their way to Europe, many myths surrounded the unique feathering of the Silkie chicken, even though early travelers like Marco Polo and Aldrovandi noted it. It was even believed that Silkies were bird mammals and were bred by crossing chickens and rabbits. The satin-like fur coat of rabbits and the fluffy plumage of Silkies have a striking resemblance - but we know for certain that these adorable chickens are not mammals at all, but just very unique chickens.
Now that we've discussed their history, let's look at some facts.
Silkies' eggs are also smaller since they're so small, but that makes them perfect for kids' breakfasts. Compared to large fowl chickens, bantam eggs tend to have larger yolks per egg.
For someone who wants buckets of eggs, Silkies may not be the best choice. You can, however, expect a handful of edible eggs every week if you have at least five hens.
Silkies lay small to extra-small eggs. A small egg is defined as one that weighs less than 53 grams, according to UK standards. Generally, in the US, a small egg weighs no more than 42.5 grams, while a peewee or extra small egg weighs no more than 35.4 grams. The last 3 eggs in the pic below are Silkie eggs.
In addition to vitamins A, K, D, and E, eggs are also rich in vitamins B5, B12, and B6. Also, they are a good source of calcium, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus. As well as being high in good cholesterol, eggs are also an excellent source of choline, a nutrient that is incredibly important but is not enough in most people's diets. In the brain, choline is used to make signaling molecules and to build cell membranes.
Over all else, eggs have been linked to improved heart health, reduced stroke risk, better eye health, and even weight loss.
It may take up to a year for your girls to produce even one egg. It is generally believed that Silkies will produce more eggs the longer they take to lay.
Egg production in Silkies tends to decline gradually after two to three years of consistent laying. Hens won't suddenly stop laying eggs one day. It is only when she stops laying a lot that you will notice she's not laying as much as usual. At five years old, your Silkie's egg production is half of what it used to be, and it continues to decline from there until she only lays an egg once in a while at the age of eight.
However, chicken is a very social animal, and most hens are very happy to share their nesting box. If you have multiple nesting boxes, though, you might find that all your girls lay their eggs in the same one. Not only do they like to share, but they might lay in the same nesting box if you have multiple nesting boxes.
For every three to four hens in your coop, you should provide 1 nesting box. You'll want two nesting boxes if you're having four little ladies - that way they can pick which one they like!
Also, Silkies are known for broodiness, so having enough nesting boxes will prevent squabbles if one goes broody.
The poor laying ability of Silkies makes it unlikely that you will be intending to sell their eggs. You won't need to register with any authorities if you simply keep the eggs for yourself. However, to ensure that your hens produce delicious and nutritious eggs, you must take excellent care of them and prevent any health issues.
You will not be able to obtain eggs from a sick or stressed hen (e.g. from predators), no matter how few they may be. She might even eat her own eggs if she's deficient in calcium and if she doesn't receive adequate nutrition. She won't produce good eggs if she doesn't receive adequate nutrition.
In order to ensure your Silkie hens are properly nourished, you will need to provide them with high-quality feed. Additionally, you can keep your chickens' feed interesting by supplementing it with various treats. A commercial layer feed can be purchased at any agricultural or animal feed store if you plan on keeping Silkies for their eggs. There is a perfect balance between protein, calcium, and minerals in a good quality commercial feed. Food for layers that is organic and non-GMO will be of the highest quality.
Additionally, you'll need to provide fresh water and oyster grit to your girls. Oyster grit should be fed separately since your chickens will instinctively know when they need it. Your chickens' egg shells will be strong and durable with oyster grit, a calcium supplement. Calcium deficiency can cause your hens to peck at their own eggs, breaking and eating them, which can lead to bad habits that are hard to break. Eggs laid by calcium-deficient hens may be soft-shelled or thin-shelled, and they may even break before you reach the nest. Oyster grit can be found at the feed store, or egg shells can be used instead - but make sure they are dried out and ground up really fine before feeding them so they will not recognize the shells as their own.
Be sure that a broody Silkie hen is not being picked on by the other birds in the flock if you have one. Water and food should always be nearby for broody hens, as they are unlikely to leave the nest for more than a brief snack or drink. You may need to offer her a few protein-rich treats such as mealworms or scrambled eggs to help her maintain her condition. Once the chicks hatch, she should be switched to grower feed. It won't be long before you see tiny cotton buds running around the coop, because momma hen is warm and comfortable!
It is more than likely that silkies will go broody and hatch your clutches of eggs if you let them. Nevertheless, hatching your own eggs is an experience unlike any other, and we strongly believe that every chicken keeper should have a chance to do so.
To make things a little easier, here are some guidelines to follow when choosing eggs for hatching.
For incubation, choose eggs that are:
For a forced air incubator, the temperature should be 99.1°F, while for a still air incubator, it should be 101°F. Mark your eggs with a non-toxic marker or pencil so they can be turned correctly or at least make sure the automatic egg turner works if your incubator has one.
Aside from their adorable white eggs, Silkies are one of the most popular chicken breeds kept as pets.
What is the largest egg your Silkie has ever laid? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! It's always a pleasure to hear about your backyard flocks!
Silkies are known for their silky or satin-like plumage. They differ from regular chickens because of their feathering. Silkies are also unusual in that their skin is black, their earlobes are blue, and they cannot fly.
Their cheeky looks, friendly disposition, docile nature, and adaptability make Silkie chickens a charming head-turner for their owners. You cannot go wrong with these fluffy beauties if you are looking for an unusual and special chook for your backyard flock.
A brief history of the Silkie breed
It is no secret that Silkies are an old breed that was discovered in China and have become ubiquitous today.On his famous and fateful 13th century travels, Marco Polo encountered what he called a "furry chicken" and described it as a Silkie chicken.
The second mention of Silkies is made by Ulisse Aldrovandi, a celebrated Italian author, in his treatise on chickens, where he calls them "chickens with hair like black cats".
The place where Silkies first scratched around cannot be pinpointed with 100 percent accuracy. Although they are dotted across Asia, we know their history is long and complex. The Silkie name is probably derived from the Silk Road, where they were traded.
Once these diminutive chickens made their way to Europe, many myths surrounded the unique feathering of the Silkie chicken, even though early travelers like Marco Polo and Aldrovandi noted it. It was even believed that Silkies were bird mammals and were bred by crossing chickens and rabbits. The satin-like fur coat of rabbits and the fluffy plumage of Silkies have a striking resemblance - but we know for certain that these adorable chickens are not mammals at all, but just very unique chickens.
Now that we've discussed their history, let's look at some facts.
Are Silkie eggs safe to eat?
Silkie chicken eggs are safe to eat. Due to the fact that Silkies love to free range and find all kinds of insects and greenery, they taste pretty good. This is beneficial for eggs, especially the yolks, which are a bright yellow color.Silkies' eggs are also smaller since they're so small, but that makes them perfect for kids' breakfasts. Compared to large fowl chickens, bantam eggs tend to have larger yolks per egg.
What is the average number of eggs laid by Silkie hens?
Despite their popularity, silkies are very poor layers. It is estimated that you will receive 100 - 120 eggs from your Silkie girls every year. Some hens might take almost a year before they provide you with a single egg, which makes them also slower to lay than other chickens.For someone who wants buckets of eggs, Silkies may not be the best choice. You can, however, expect a handful of edible eggs every week if you have at least five hens.
What color are Silkie hens' eggs?
Some silkie eggs may be cream, white or off-white in color.How big are Silkie hens' eggs?
Eggs come in a variety of sizes just as there are different breeds of chickens. Eggs can range in size from 35g - 70g (1.2 oz - 2.5 oz). In commercial terms, an extra-large egg is one that weighs more than 2 ounces (59 grams), and a jumbo egg is one that weighs more than 2.2 ounces (66 grams). However, some breeds, particularly those that are bred to lay eggs, consistently lay large eggs.Silkies lay small to extra-small eggs. A small egg is defined as one that weighs less than 53 grams, according to UK standards. Generally, in the US, a small egg weighs no more than 42.5 grams, while a peewee or extra small egg weighs no more than 35.4 grams. The last 3 eggs in the pic below are Silkie eggs.
Silkie Egg Nutritional Value
Despite their low-calorie content, eggs are packed with nutrition. Eggs are considered a superfood by some experts - along with flaxseed, acai, nuts, and avocado! A single egg contains all the nutrients required to turn into a baby chicken, which makes eggs so fantastic for you.In addition to vitamins A, K, D, and E, eggs are also rich in vitamins B5, B12, and B6. Also, they are a good source of calcium, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus. As well as being high in good cholesterol, eggs are also an excellent source of choline, a nutrient that is incredibly important but is not enough in most people's diets. In the brain, choline is used to make signaling molecules and to build cell membranes.
Over all else, eggs have been linked to improved heart health, reduced stroke risk, better eye health, and even weight loss.
Age at which silkies lay eggs
In terms of growth and maturity, silkies are notoriously slow. At approximately 7 - 9 months of age, your Silkie hens will start laying, though some may take longer than others.It may take up to a year for your girls to produce even one egg. It is generally believed that Silkies will produce more eggs the longer they take to lay.
Egg production in Silkies tends to decline gradually after two to three years of consistent laying. Hens won't suddenly stop laying eggs one day. It is only when she stops laying a lot that you will notice she's not laying as much as usual. At five years old, your Silkie's egg production is half of what it used to be, and it continues to decline from there until she only lays an egg once in a while at the age of eight.
Nesting Boxes
One nesting box per hen would be a reasonable assumption if you're new to backyard chicken keeping.However, chicken is a very social animal, and most hens are very happy to share their nesting box. If you have multiple nesting boxes, though, you might find that all your girls lay their eggs in the same one. Not only do they like to share, but they might lay in the same nesting box if you have multiple nesting boxes.
For every three to four hens in your coop, you should provide 1 nesting box. You'll want two nesting boxes if you're having four little ladies - that way they can pick which one they like!
Also, Silkies are known for broodiness, so having enough nesting boxes will prevent squabbles if one goes broody.
Silkie Hen Care
The poor laying ability of Silkies makes it unlikely that you will be intending to sell their eggs. You won't need to register with any authorities if you simply keep the eggs for yourself. However, to ensure that your hens produce delicious and nutritious eggs, you must take excellent care of them and prevent any health issues.
You will not be able to obtain eggs from a sick or stressed hen (e.g. from predators), no matter how few they may be. She might even eat her own eggs if she's deficient in calcium and if she doesn't receive adequate nutrition. She won't produce good eggs if she doesn't receive adequate nutrition.
In order to ensure your Silkie hens are properly nourished, you will need to provide them with high-quality feed. Additionally, you can keep your chickens' feed interesting by supplementing it with various treats. A commercial layer feed can be purchased at any agricultural or animal feed store if you plan on keeping Silkies for their eggs. There is a perfect balance between protein, calcium, and minerals in a good quality commercial feed. Food for layers that is organic and non-GMO will be of the highest quality.
Additionally, you'll need to provide fresh water and oyster grit to your girls. Oyster grit should be fed separately since your chickens will instinctively know when they need it. Your chickens' egg shells will be strong and durable with oyster grit, a calcium supplement. Calcium deficiency can cause your hens to peck at their own eggs, breaking and eating them, which can lead to bad habits that are hard to break. Eggs laid by calcium-deficient hens may be soft-shelled or thin-shelled, and they may even break before you reach the nest. Oyster grit can be found at the feed store, or egg shells can be used instead - but make sure they are dried out and ground up really fine before feeding them so they will not recognize the shells as their own.
Be sure that a broody Silkie hen is not being picked on by the other birds in the flock if you have one. Water and food should always be nearby for broody hens, as they are unlikely to leave the nest for more than a brief snack or drink. You may need to offer her a few protein-rich treats such as mealworms or scrambled eggs to help her maintain her condition. Once the chicks hatch, she should be switched to grower feed. It won't be long before you see tiny cotton buds running around the coop, because momma hen is warm and comfortable!
Silkie Egg Incubation and Hatching
You might be interested in Silkie eggs for reasons other than breakfast. Would you like to incubate and hatch Silkie eggs?It is more than likely that silkies will go broody and hatch your clutches of eggs if you let them. Nevertheless, hatching your own eggs is an experience unlike any other, and we strongly believe that every chicken keeper should have a chance to do so.
To make things a little easier, here are some guidelines to follow when choosing eggs for hatching.
For incubation, choose eggs that are:
- Approximately the same size. When too big or too small, problems can arise.
- Their size and color should be appropriate for the breed.
- Well-shaped and clean.
- No cracks. It's a good idea to candle eggs before incubation to detect less obvious cracks.
- Not too old. There is a much lower chance of a hatching egg being stored for over 10 days.
- From well-fed parents. Eggs produced by happy and well-fed hens are of higher quality.
- When eggs are collected from hens during their second season, the best results are obtained.
Silkie Egg Incubation Period
Incubation lasts 20 - 21 days for Silkie chickens. Eggs from bantams, such as those you'll get from your Silkies, hatch earlier than those from large fowls. You should stop turning Silkie eggs on day 17 rather than day 18 if you only have Silkie eggs in the incubator. It is possible for Silkies to hatch as early as 19 days and as late as 22 days.Humidity and temperature
Before setting the eggs, set the incubator up and run it for at least 24 hours. For the first 17 days, humidity should be between 45 and 55%, and for hatching, it should be between 55 and 65%. Hatching Silkie eggs requires extra humidity because they have a porcelain-like shell.For a forced air incubator, the temperature should be 99.1°F, while for a still air incubator, it should be 101°F. Mark your eggs with a non-toxic marker or pencil so they can be turned correctly or at least make sure the automatic egg turner works if your incubator has one.
Conclusion
Silkies are great backyard companions, although they don't lay as many eggs as other breeds. Also, the females make wonderful broody mothers who will hatch dozens and dozens of eggs if given the opportunity. Some people, however, may wish to incubate and hatch their own eggs. After approximately 21 days, you will have the cutest little cotton balls running all over your home. It's up to you which method you prefer.Aside from their adorable white eggs, Silkies are one of the most popular chicken breeds kept as pets.
What is the largest egg your Silkie has ever laid? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! It's always a pleasure to hear about your backyard flocks!
