The Silkie chicken was first recorded in the 13th century, when Marco Polo described encountering a “furry” chicken during his travels through Asia. Named for their soft, silk-like plumage, Silkies have since captured the hearts of chicken keepers around the world.
While Silkies are primarily kept as pets, they also serve as excellent garden companions. Their small size and feathered feet mean they cause minimal damage to plants, while still helping with pest control by scratching for bugs.
Silkies begin laying at around 6 months of age and are notoriously broody. They often sit on their own eggs—or even steal others—and make exceptional mothers, nurturing chicks with great care. On average, they produce 80–120 small cream-coloured eggs per year.
These charming birds are instantly recognisable by their walnut-shaped combs, dark mulberry wattles, black skin, and turquoise earlobes. They have feathered legs and an unusual five toes per foot. Silkies are available in a range of colours, with white, black, and brown being the most popular.
Often described as the friendliest chicken breed, Silkies are gentle, affectionate, and happy to be handled or cuddled. They make fantastic pets for families, particularly those with young children, and are known to be calm and content when kept with other breeds.
Silkies tolerate cold weather fairly well but should be kept dry, as their unique feathers don’t shed water effectively. They’re suitable for confinement but also enjoy free-ranging, where their sweet nature and foraging instinct truly shine.
Greenhills Country Farm currently supplies Partridge Silkies.
★★★★★
“Beautiful Silkie Bantams with soft feathers and calm temperament. The chickens arrived healthy and settled in quickly. Excellent service from Greenhill Country Farm.”
April 2026
★★★★★
“Our Silkie Bantams are friendly, active, and absolutely stunning. Perfect addition to our small poultry collection.”
February 2026
★★★★★
“Very impressed with the quality of the Silkie Bantams. Healthy birds, smooth delivery, and excellent communication throughout the process.”
March 2026
★★★★★
“Excellent breeder with healthy Silkie Bantams and professional customer service. The birds matched the website photos perfectly.”
January 2026
★★★★★
“Highly recommend Greenhill Country Farm for ornamental chickens. The Silkies arrived healthy, fluffy, and stress-free.”
December 2025
★★★★★
“Beautiful feather quality and very calm birds. The Silkie Bantams adapted quickly and are doing extremely well.”
April 2026