Information About the White Silkie Rooster

White silkie roosters are one of a variety of bantam poultry. Silkie roosters come in white, black, blue and silver-gray among other colors. They have specific attributes that separate them from other rooster breeds, and the Big W Ranch website adds that they rank in the top 15 rooster breeds in popularity.

  1. Physical Characteristics

    • According to the Big W Ranch website, white silkie roosters weigh approximately 36 ounces or 2.2 pounds. They are considered to be a miniature-sized chicken breed. White silkies have walnut-shaped combs, and their plumage has hair-like qualities that make it look softer; this is where the "silky" name comes from. They are distinctive from other roosters in that they have five toes.

    Coloring

    • White silkie roosters have white feathers, but their skin is black. You can see this attribute on their faces in particular, since the rest of their skin is mostly covered in feathers. They have mulberry-colored combs and wattles, and their earlobes are turquoise. Overall, these features make for a colorful bird.

    Temperment and Behavior

    • The silkie hens are excellent brood birds or mothers. The roosters are no different; feathersite.com reports that on occasion a white silkie rooster will adopt a brood of chicks and raise them as his own. Cackle Hatchery's website also reports that these roosters are "kid-friendly." They are docile and calm, according to the Big W Ranch website, and they do not fly so they can be kept inside low fences.

    Health

    • The white silkie rooster can live for approximately nine years, and they are slow-maturing birds. They are susceptible to scaly leg, and their feathers are not well-suited to poor weather conditions due to their silky nature and their lack of waterproofing.

    Origins

    • According to the Big W Ranch website, this breed began in China in the 13th century, so they are a long-standing breed. Cackle Hatchery credits their origins to Japan and China, noting that they have been recognized by the American Poultry Standard of Perfection since 1871.