Silkies

[GeneralSV]

Can someone explain everything about silkies? I have always wanted silkies but there's so much information on them that I don't know which ones are the right ones or not. I've read some information on not to get none pure silkies, why? How do you tell is one is purebred? Then I read you can't tell their gender until they are 6 months, is this true? What is the cheapest I can get them? Why are they so expensive? Places you would recommend to get silkies?

Thank you!

 

[Trimurtisan]

Then I read you can't tell their gender until they are 6 months, is this true?

Yes, Silkies are difficult to sex. The easiest way it to wait for it to crow or lay an egg.

What is the cheapest I can get them?

I've got them for as little as $4 from a feed store. Our cockerels from a show breeder where $40 each. Just like any breed there is a scale of quality and the price point should reflect it. There's a decent difference between a $4 & $40 bird in regards to quality. All depends what you want and expect. For what it's worth, the $4 still made a great pet, still lays eggs, still cute, but not breeder worthy.

Why are they so expensive?

I think it really depends on their quality. Maybe how the chicken was kept prior it purchase. If I had a chicken I needed to keep pampered to sell it, I'd expect my time to be compensated.

Places you would recommend to get silkies?

I would try to source a local breeder. Craigslist can be an okay starting point. I find you just have to know what your looking for. If you want pet quality then it should be easy to find "just anyone" with Silkies. TSC have Silkies sometimes, again just pet quality, but if that's what you want, they are affordable.

If you want breeder or show quality you can still find them on CL toy just need to do w/e research you can, ig: request to see the parents in person, ask if they have a BYC/facebook/instagram/mewe page that you can view. If so, look at their pictures, see if there's any testimonies from previous customers.

If you know any local chicken breeders, that's also a good way to find other breeds. Most of the breeders I know, also know of each other. They might not sell what you want but they could have a good idea where to get them.

Hatching eggs are prey easy to find of both pet and show quality.

 

[Trimurtisan]

I've read some information on not to get none pure silkies, why?

Just because if you wasn't a specific breed, it's best to get that specific breed. There's nothing wrong with Silkie crosses, and some are down right beautiful, but it's no longer a Silkie, it's a mutt. Silkie x Bantam Cochin are typically very attractive and make great pets, but they are just good as pets at that point. It all depends on what you want and expect again.