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"Rocky" from Brier Hill Cottage breeding in NY.
       Silkies and Satins have to be one of my favorite birds on the farm. They are so gentle, quirky, talkative, and are just adorable little chickens! One important thing to note is that Silkies and Satins, although very similar, are two different breeds.
       The Silkie has been around for hundreds of years, while the Satin is a fairly recent breed - within the last 20 or so years. The Satin was created by crossing Silkies with Cochins and then back to Silkies for several generations. This created a bird that looks like a Silkie except the Satin has the smooth, standard-type feathering instead of the silked feathers seen on a traditional Silkie. Satins are not currently accepted as a breed by the American Poultry Association, so if you wanted to show them, they would have to go in a non-standard class.
       I try to follow the Silkie SOP as much as possible and apply similar standards to the Satin (sans silked feather section). While I do my best to select for correct traits, disqualifying faults such as the wrong type of comb, incorrect number of toes, etc.) may show up.
     
​  If you order from me...
  • My Silkies and Satins are (usually) kept together.
  • I try to keep mostly Silkie roosters over the hens for higher chances of Silkies.
  • I do keep both bearded and non-bearded types.
  • There is a chance of frizzle in both Silkies and Satins.
  • I am phasing out naked necks, but they may appear in later generations.
  • Breeding is a hobby and my pens are small. I cannot do large quantities of one color/type for hatching eggs. ​

Bearded and Non-Bearded

       The Silkie bantam is the only breed of bantams with black pigmented skin. The feathers are without the usual forms of webs, that is, there is a lack of adhesion of the barbs to one another which gives the appearance of down or silky hair, hence the name silken or Silkie. Another distinguishing feature is turquoise blue ear lobes.
  • Weight Cock/Rooster – 36 oz./1020 grams
  • Cockerel – 32 oz./905 grams
  • Hen – 32 oz./905 grams
  • Pullet – 28 oz./795 grams
Shape of Male
  • COMB: Walnut – set firmly and evenly on head, almost circular in shape, preferably broader than longer, with a number of small prominences over it, a slight indentation of furrow, transversely across the middle, rising at a point just forward of the nostrils and extending backwards to a point parallel with front of eyes.
  • CREST: Medium size, soft and full, as upright as the comb will permit, having a few silky feathers streaming gracefully backwards from lower and back part of crest.
  • BEAK: Short, broad at base, well curved.
  • FACE: Fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
  • EYES: Large, bright, prominent.
  • WATTLES:
    • ​Non-Bearded – medium size, concaved, nearly round, fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
    • Bearded – very small, almost concealed by beard.
  • EAR LOBES:
    • ​Non-Bearded – small, oval, fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
    • Bearded – very small, almost entirely concealed by muffs.
  • HEAD: Small, short, carried so that line drawn parallel with tip of tail will bisect the comb.
  • BEARD & MUFFS:
    • ​Bearded Varieties – composed of feathers turned horizontally backwards, from both sides of the beak, from the center, vertically downwards, the whole forming a collar of three ovals in a triangular group, giving a muffed effect.
  • NECK: Short, full, well proportioned, gracefully arched.
  • HACKLE: Abundant, flowing well down over back and shoulders.
  • BACK: Short, broad from shoulders to saddle, quite rounded its entire length, the whole forming a U-shaped curve from neck to tail.
  • SADDLE: Rising from back at base of cape, very broad and round, plumage profuse and long, lower saddle feathers flowing over tips of wings and mingling with fluff.
  • TAIL:
    • Main Tail – short, very shredded at ends, well spread at base, filled underneath with an abundance of soft feathers which are overlapped by coverts and lesser sickles, the whole forming a duplex curve with back and saddle.
    • Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Coverts – abundant, soft, well curved, without hard quills, concealing main tail feathers.
​
  • WINGS: Medium size, closely folded, carried well back and nearly horizontal, well above lower thighs, ending short of stern.
    • Bantam Standard Shoulders & Fronts – concealed by hackle and breast feathers.
    • Bows & Coverts – very well rounded.
    • Primaries – medium length, well shredded, concealed by secondaries.
    • Secondaries – medium length, well shredded, tapering convexly to stern, tips concealed by saddle feathers.
  • BREAST: Carried well forward, extremely full, well rounded, great breadth and depth.
  • BODY & STERN: Body – medium length, broad, deep, well rounded from breast to abdomen and tail, depending more on fullness or fluffiness and length of feather than on muscular development. Stern – very full, soft and silky feathering.
  • LEGS & TOES: Legs – short, stout, set well apart, straight when seen from front.
    • Lower Thighs – short, stout at top, tapering to hocks, abundantly feathered.
    • Hocks – covered with soft and silky feathers curving inwards about the hocks.
    • Shanks – rather short, stout in bone, well feathered on outer sides with silky plumage, the upper part growing out from under thigh plumage and continuing into foot feathering.
    • Spurs – medium size and length, set just above fifth toe. Toes – five, the three front straight, well and evenly spread; the hind toe double, the normal toe in natural position and the extra toe placed above, starting from close to the other toe, but well formed, longer than the other toes and curving upwards and backwards; the outer and middle toes well feathered.
  • APPEARANCE: Active, bold, silky and fluffy.
Shape of Female
  • COMB: Walnut – very small, well formed, set firmly and evenly on head, almost circular in shape, preferably broader than long, with a number of small prominences over it, a slight indentation or furrow, transversely across the middle, rising at a point just forward of the nostrils and extending backwards to a point parallel with front of eyes.
  • CREST: Medium size, soft and full, compact, globular, well balanced.
  • BEAK, FACE AND EYES: Same as male.
  • WATTLES:
    • ​Non-bearded – small, concaved, forming a half circle, fine texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
    • Bearded – very small to nonexistent, almost concealed by beard.
  • EAR LOBES: Non-bearded – very small, oval, fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds. Bearded – very small, almost entirely concealed by muffs.
  • HEAD: Small, short, carried so that line drawn parallel with tip of tail will be beneath wattles.
  • BEARD, MUFF, NECK AND HACKLE: Same as male.
  • BACK: Short, broad, from shoulders to cushion, quite rounded its entire length, the whole forming a U-shaped curve from neck to tail.
  • CUSHION: Rising from back at base of cape, very broad and round; plumage, abundant.
  • TAIL: Main Tail – short, very shredded at ends, well spread at base, filled underneath with an abundance of soft feathers which are overlapped by cushion and coverts, the whole forming a duplex curve with back and cushion.
  • WINGS, BREAST, BODY & STERN: Same as male.
  • LEGS & TOES: Same as male except no spur.
  • APPEARANCE: Active, sedate, silky and fluffy.
Disqualifications
  • Absence of crest
  • Single comb
  • Bright red face, comb or wattles​
  • Absence of fifth toe, or more than five toes.
​Shanks not feathered on outer sides​
  • Vulture hocks
  • Plumage not truly silky, except in main tail, wings and toe feathers (Silkies only)
  • Skin other than mulberry or dark blue violet
These are SOP disqualifications to consider with breeding and/or showing if you'd like to keep to the (Silkie) standard.
Defects

NAKED NECK SILKIE (NN - Bearded) Origin: United States
Shape of Male and Female Exhibition

NN Silkies should follow all characteristics of the Silkies Bantam breed except for neck, Beard and Crop area of upper Chest. Shall be judged as Best and Reserve Variety and will compete with all Silkie Bantams for Best and Reserve Breed.
  • Plumage: Refer to Naked Neck as in Silkie plumage description.
  • Bearded Male and Female Back of Neck: There should be no feathering from back of the head, starting just under the crest, all the way down to the lower base of neck.
  • Front of Neck: There should be no feathering starting under the lower beak, except where there should be beard, all the way down to end of neck and the crop area of the upper chest; except where a bib is present.
  • Beard: Same as bearded Silkie, except beard may be thinner and feathers not as long, resulting in a smaller, less dense beard.
  • Bib: An abundance of soft silkie feathering at mid to lower neck forming an oval to round formation of feathering covering the lower neck and upper crop area of the chest and blending feathers on each side of shoulders. Lower section of crop area bare and free of feathers, bib should be wide enough vertically to almost conceal this area. As a whole forming a bibbed like appearance to lower neck area.
  • Color of Male and Female White Bearded NN Silkie approved for Bantam Standard; See description for White Silkie Plumage.
  • Disqualifications and Defects
    All disqualifications and defects of the regular Silkie breed shall apply to the NN Silkie. Also feathering in any area of the neck (back and front) except where beard and bib are present to be a disqualification. The absences of bib shall be considered a defect.
COLOR OF MALE AND FEMALE BY VARIETY
Black Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded): Lacings of a foreign color on the black variety of males one year old and scarcity of foot feathering shall not be a disqualification but they are to be rated under birds that do not have these defects.
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Bluish black.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Bluish black; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Black color descriptions.

Blue Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded)
Lacings of a foreign color on the blue variety of males one year old and scarcity of foot feathering shall not be a disqualification but they are to be rated under birds that do not have these defects.
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Bluish black.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Bluish black; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Black color descriptions.

Gray Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Slaty blue.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • BEARD & CREST:
    • ​Male – an even shade of dark gray
    • Female – Chinchilla gray.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Slaty blue; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Gray as in gray silkie color description.

Partridge Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Bluish black.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Bluish black; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Partridge color descriptions.

Buff Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Slaty blue.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Slaty blue; nails, horn; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Buff color description.​​
Self Blue (Lavender) Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE & WATTLES: Deep Mulberry
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue
  • BEAK: Slaty Blue to Black.
  • EYES: Black.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Slaty Blue to Black.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Self Blue color description.
​
​Splash Silkies (Bearded and Non-bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Slaty blue to black.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Slaty blue.
  • NAILS: Horn to black.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Splash color description.

White Silkie Bantam (Bearded and Non-Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Slaty blue.
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Slaty blue; nails, horn; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to White color description.

​White Naked Neck Silkie (Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep mulberry.
  • BEAK: Slaty blue
  • EYES: Black.
  • EAR LOBES: Turquoise blue.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Slaty blue; nails, horn; plumage, same as lower thighs.
  • PLUMAGE: Refer to Refer to White color description.
Paint Silkie (Bearded)
  • COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Deep Mulberry
  • BEAK: Slate
  • EYES: Dark brown to black.
  • SHANKS & TOES: Black to Slaty Blue; Bottom of Feet Light Slate; Nails Horn.
  • EAR LOBES:  Turquoise.
  • PLUMAGE: The feathering over the entire surface of the bird should be white with varying black un-uniform or irregular spots and/or patches. This includes crest and beards, foot feathering, hackles and saddles. Black Feathering may appear as stripping rather than spots or patches in hackles and saddles of male and hackles of female. There should be an overall brightness of sheen to both male and female. Note: Larger spots and or patches preferred.
  • DEFECTS: Over all splashing effect to the entire body of the bird. Lack of distinct pronounced spots and/or patches of black feathering. Skin pigment lighter than black or mulberry in section of body, feet lighter than light slate blue. Eyes lighter than brown. Creaminess or khaki color taking away from the appearance of the white or black feathering.
  • DISQUALIFICATION: Red or other off colored feathering in any section, more than 10% of khaki coloring. Eyes with yellow pigment 
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