Silkie Chicks

March 3, 2025

It’s always exciting to have babies at my farm - especially when they're cute, fluffy, delicate little chicks.

Recently, I incubated and hatched nine Silkie chick eggs from Stonebrook Silkies. I got the eggs from this year's Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts. Silkies are best known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel like silk or satin. The chicks are now about a month old and thriving - very alert, healthy, and so curious. They will remain in my stable feed room where they can be closely monitored until they are big enough to move into an outdoor enclosure.

Enjoy these photos.

: Right now, the youngest residents at my farm are nine fluffy chicks – eating, chirping and strutting around their cage.

: The Silkie, also known as the Silky or Chinese silk chicken, is a breed of chicken named for its atypically soft and showy plumage.

: Here in my stable feed room, they are checked several times a day. This room is also well heated and free from drafts.

: All these chicks have clear eyes and are very alert – signs of good health.

: There are eight Silkie color varieties accepted by the American Poultry Association. They include black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, splash, and white.

: Silkies have black eyes, dark beaks, combs, and wattles.

: And underneath all that feathering, they also have black skin and bones and five toes instead of the typical four on each foot.

: As soon as the chicks are able to walk, they’re up and about and playing and interacting with each other. They also peck at each other playfully.

: At this stage, the chicks are already communicating with each other. In general, chickens are quite vocal. They make around 30 different calls, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.”

: These Silkies are already greeting visitors that enter the room – I am looking forward to seeing them mature with the rest of my flock.

: They are full of expression from the very start. I wonder what this chick is thinking.

: Here, one is perching atop a stuffed toy. Chickens love to perch. It gives them a sense of safety, especially when they sleep.

: The Silkie is one of the oldest breeds of chicken in the world. It was originally bred in China and then made its way to the West through maritime trade. The breed was recognized officially in North America in 1874.