To Eat or Not to Eat? Silkies

[Break an Egg]

Hi this may be a dumb question, so please bear with me.
I was looking at the images on google after I typed in silkie chicken, and I saw a pic of a plate with what looked like a tiny black chicken body on it. This got me to wonder, silkies may be some kind of a culinary delicacy, but is anyone on here raising them strictly to eat? They just seem so small and fluffy and to me, worth a bit more alive. Not to say that they aren't probably delicious.
I don't have any chickens right now, but I am getting some chicks in Thursday.

 

[muddler6]

You have just opened a can of worms, be prepared. There are a couple folks on here who do butcher their extra roos. I think Puple Chicken posted an incredible looking soup not long ago from his silkies. But you have gone and done it now. This is going to get some interesting replies.

 

[silkiechicken]

They are a delicacy in the asian markets.... I raise the girls for eggs... and well... extra roos go for meat... about $10 per bird.

 

[Badhbh]

I couldn't personally eat one of mine. That said, they don't look like they'd have that much meat on them. It would probably be more cost effective to raise meat birds for meat. Silkies are kinda puny

 

[wegotchickens]

I have friends who send me recipes for black-skinned chicken. Supposed to be pretty tasty. The guy who sends them most often used to travel to China & Japan a lot.

Haven't had the heart to kill one yet.
I also wonder if the original silkies were as cute and fluffy as she ones we have today. Maybe we bred more cuteness into them for show?

 

[greeneggsandham]

Silkee Chickens are a delicay in Asian Countries. My understaning is that they taste the same just their skin, meat, and bones are "black" in color. I have two Silkie roos that I am debating on either selling or processing. I've seen shows that describe them as being wonderful for soups and stews.

 

[Break an Egg]

Silkies are very pretty birds, but my DH would not like them, I can just hear him now. Why did you get this kind? Cause it's pretty?

I really didn't mean to open a can of worms, but it just seemed like a question that had an interesting answer. I'm new to the chicken world, very curious, and learning fast.

I had a discussion with DH today about extra roos, we aren't getting silkies, and he said we should eat the extra guys. I guess if that's what he wants, he's doing the cooking!

 

[MissPrissy]

If you go to an Asain market you will find silkies in the meat case. Chicken is chicken. People do eat them.

 

[eggchel]

They are used for medicinal soup within our Asian community. Pregnant women or women who have just had babies, are given the soup for strength.

During the CA dry season, I go to the local farmers market at the end of the day and trade a few cockerels to some farmers for all their boxes of greens to feed my geese. It is a good trade for both of us.


Chel

 

[Break an Egg]

Quote:
I did read they had medicinal properties for women. Thank you for the input.