How to Cross Breed White & Black Silkie Chickens

Silkie chickens are one of the most unusual varieties in the chicken world. Silkie chicken feathers lack the rigid webbing found in other types of feathers, giving them a soft, fluffy appearance. A number of Silkie varieties exist, including bearded and non-bearded blacks, whites, blues, partridges, buffs, and grays. Cross breeding white and black Silkie chickens is possible and can create some uniquely colored chicks.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken coop
  • Feed and water pans
  • Chicken feed
  • Nesting boxes
  • Straw
  • Silkie rooster
  • Silkie hens
  • Chick starter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare your chicken coop prior to adding your Silkies. A proper chicken coop should have a small structure, such as a storage building, surrounded by a fence. The building allows gives your chickens a place to roost and get out of the weather, while the fence keeps the chickens in and predators out. Fill a feed pan with clean chicken scratch and place it at one end of the pen. Place a pan with fresh water at the other end. Silkies can be messy eaters, so separating food and water dishes can help minimize the mess.

    • 2

      Fill each nest box with clean straw and place the boxes right inside the structure that houses your coop, to make nesting hens even more comfortable. The straw helps protect the eggs from accidental cracks and adds insulation to keep them warm.

    • 3

      Introduce your rooster and hens to the coop and allow them to become familiar with each other. The rooster can be either black or white, as long as the hens are the opposite color. The chickens may squabble and peck at each other, but this is normal as they establish their pecking order.

    • 4

      Observe your Silkies for signs of mating. When your hens are ready to mate, they will lay down on the ground and hold their tails up, clucking softy to call the rooster. He will mount each hen, holding onto her head or neck feathers for stability. Chickens will often vocalize during mating, so do not be surprised if your Silkies make a lot of noise.

    • 5

      Check your hens daily for eggs. Successful matings can produce up to 5 eggs, which the hen will sit on for three weeks before they hatch. Hens will appear nervous and reluctant to sit in the box as the eggs begin to hatch. Hens will turn the chicks gently to help them out of their shells. Silkie hens are extremely protective of their offspring and will stay close to their chicks, often running off other chickens. Your chicks may be black, white or a combination of the two, with black and white feathers scattered over their bodies.

    • 6

      Place a shallow dish of chick starter in the coop and introduce the newly hatched Silkie chicks to the food. Scratch your fingers in the pan, encouraging the chicks to peck at the food. The hens will quickly take over, showing their offspring how to eat and drink and keeping them safe as they mature.