Silkies are the cloud-fluffy 'teddy bear' chickens - black skin, 5 toes, crested head, soft hair-like feathers. Terrible flyers, excellent broody mothers, beloved show and pet birds. Lay small cream-colored eggs. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Silkie Bantam as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and breeder pairs and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | China - documented since the 1200s |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1874 |
| Conservation status | Common |
| Also called | Silky, Chinese Silk Chicken |
| Adult weight | Roosters 2-3 lb, Hens 1.5-2 lb |
| Size class | Bantam |
| Eggs per year | ~110 |
| Egg color | Cream |
| Egg size | Small |
| Broodiness | Very High |
| Cold hardiness | Good (dry only) |
| Heat tolerance | Fair |
| Noise level | Very quiet |
| Flight tendency | Calm/won't fly |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
One of the oldest documented chicken breeds. Marco Polo wrote about 'furry chickens' in his 13th-century travels to China. Brought to Europe by Dutch traders in the 1700s and described by Linnaeus in 1764. APA-recognized in 1874 (Black and White varieties). The black-skin, black-meat trait (a result of fibromelanosis) is genetic and harmless - the bird is otherwise a normal chicken. Bantams only in the US APA standard; some countries recognize a Standard (large) Silkie.
Best for: pet, show, broody mother, kids
Tiny eggs; production halts every time the hen goes broody (which is often).
| Indoor coop space | 2 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 6 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 6 in per bird |
Space: Cannot fly to a high roost - provide ramps. Feathered legs hate mud.
Feeding: Bantam layer feed or grower (16-18%). Smaller pieces - regular pellets are oversized.
Health: Feathers don't repel water - keep dry or you'll get respiratory issues. Trim crest feathers blocking eyesight.
Climate: Tolerate cold IF DRY. Damp + cold = respiratory pneumonia. Avoid extreme heat.
You can request Silkie Bantam through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 4 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and breeder pairs, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Silkie Bantam are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Silkie Bantam hen lays roughly 110 eggs a year, and the eggs are small and cream. Tiny eggs; production halts every time the hen goes broody (which is often). Broodiness is rated very high. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Silkie Bantam is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: gentle, broody, friendly, docile, lap-sit-friendly; cold hardiness: good (dry only); heat tolerance: fair; noise level: very quiet. It is best for pet, show, broody mother, and kids. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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