What Kind of Chicken Has Furry Feet?

The Silky Bantam chicken is a small breed of poultry that does not lay many eggs, nor is its meat good for eating. Despite this, these oddities in the chicken world are popular and kept by many people as ornamental pets. They also are shown in poultry shows, where they compete in the Featherleg Bantam class.

  1. Characteristics

    • Silkie chickens can be identified by the silk-like feathers that grow all over their body, and on their legs and feet. It is one of the few breeds of chicken that have five toes on each foot. Silkie chickens are the only chicken to have dark slate blue skin. They typically have crests on their heads, but they do come in a bearded or non-bearded variety, and in an array of colors.

    Silkies as Pets

    • Silkie chickens make excellent pets because of their tame and docile nature. They take to confinement well, and are hardy birds in the winter. While Silkies prefer low roosts, they also are happy nesting on the ground. They adapt well to human interactions and handling. Silkies cannot fly very well, so it may not be necessary to clip their wings.

    Eggs

    • Silkies lay about three medium-sized, cream colored eggs a week. They have been known to lay blue eggs, but this is due to careful breeding. Often, Silkies are used as surrogate mothers for other types of poultry and fowl; they will hatch and raise the eggs as if they were their own. Even Silkie roosters are said to have a maternal instinct, and will be seen taking care of the chicks.

    Modern Silkies vs Original Silkies

    • Silkies originated in the Far East. No one is sure how long they have been around, but Marco Polo did mention them in a record of one of his journeys to China. While modern Silkies still possess the dark skin and silky plumage that their ancestors did, they now have crests and the "characteristic" feathered feet. What really sets the modern Silkie apart from the original Silkie is the variety of colors that are now available.