Breed silk hens has a rich history of origin. Unusual, but very beautiful appearance, unusual color of skin, meat, bones make this chicken a wonderful natural creature.
People who are used to breed standard and common breeds of chickens are looking at her without looking at her. And here - such magnificence!
Despite the fact that the breed is decorative, it is a source of medicinal meat and rather large for this breed of eggs.
The homeland of this breed is considered to be the land of the rising sun - China. Its first description can be found in the notes about the wanderings belonging to the hand of the famous traveler Mark Polo. He talked about silk chickens, like birds whose black hair grows instead of feathers.
In 1874, the breed was officially recognized in North America. Because of their original appearance, silk hens are becoming popular among fans of decorative breeds. People said that the breed appeared as a result of crossing rabbits and chickens.
In Russia, silk hens could be seen in 1768. Since then, the breed has been widely distributed in Astrakhan, Siberia and other territories of our country.
Breed description Dwarf silk
The dwarf breed of silk chickens is decorative due to its specific and very elegant appearance.
Their skin is not pink, like most chickens, and black. The same color has the meat and skeletal skeleton of the bird. The beak of silk hens is also dark, blue; earlobes have a bluish tint. But the most distinctive feature is plumage, similar to down or animal fur.
And there is a variety of silk hens, which, besides the original plumage, grows a beard.
The color of feathers can be completely different: white, red, variegated, gray, beige, silver. Chickens in the sun, forcing their tender plumage to sparkle with colorful highlights, look just amazing. Nature has carefully approached the creative process and created these amazing creatures.
Silk hens have five toes, two of them are at the back and separated. Thick plumage is present on the front of the fingers.
But sometimes it does not happen, but it does not mean that the chicken is not a pure breed. The fact is that such an external sign is a genetic feature of roosters, who inherit their constitutional traits.
The legs are black with a bluish tint. There is a small tuft of feathers on the miniature head. Comb - red and blue. The eyes are brownish black. The tail is not long and set high.
Chest - powerful, wide, round shape. The wings, although wide, are rather short and loosely adhere to the body. Legs are small, usually covered with fluffy plumage.
Features
The nature of these hens is quite friendly. They get along well with strangers who will have to live in their hen house.
Very kind and attentive to their offspring. Patiently hatching eggs, they are waiting for their firstborn to surround them with parental attention and care, not a step away from them.
Interestingly, silk hens, without showing the slightest discontent and protest, can sit out eggs and other birds, if they imperceptibly put them. Thus, without using the services of an incubator, chickens of partridges, pheasants and other small birds can be bred.
And the silk hen will accept them as his own, will carefully protect and educate. It turns out that these lovely chickens have not only silk plumage, but also silk character.
Black skin of hens was subjected to thorough research by scientists who found in its cellular composition not only amino acids, but also vitamins, phosphorus, iron, calcium and even nicotinic acid. Eating this product, people get substances that improve the activity of internal organs.
Silk chicken meat is a real delicacy that is served on the table in exceptional cases. If you add refined spices and seasonings to the broth, the soup can turn into a real culinary masterpiece.
Although the Europeans at first met this delicacy somewhat wary, glancing with disbelief at the black meat. But this incident is long past, and now contemporaries gladly absorb dishes using this product.
Content and cultivation
Silk hens are unpretentious and undemanding in care, but love heat and fresh air very much. Dampness and high humidity in the room make them frail and lethargic, and birds can easily get sick.
Completely external signs of the breed appear after several months of life, when the hens pass through the first molt. Therefore, poultry farmers are recommended to purchase already grown individuals, and not young stock. Sometimes instead of fluff chicken overgrown with feathers, but this happens quite rarely.
The most viable species is considered to be a breed with white plumage.. For feeding chicken, only high-quality feed is used. Small chicks, just born, are defenseless and weak.
To support their vitality, it is necessary to comply with the temperature in the room not below 30C. Every seven days the temperature is reduced by 3C, until it reaches 18C.
First, the chicks are fed every 2 hours, then the intervals in time gradually increase, and after a month it is enough to feed the chickens every 3 hours. These chickens do not fly, so no roosts are needed for them.
Specifications
At one-year-old age, roosters reach a weight of -1.8 kg., And a chicken - 1.3 kg.
The purpose of this breed is not limited to the demonstration of its excellent external data. Chickens are able to carry up to 120 eggs per year, which for this breed are quite large.
It is considered to be very valuable fluff hens. He is sheared off from adults as well as from other domestic animals.
Chickens are able to rush in the winter, and give the same number of eggs as in summer, but for this you need to create optimal and comfortable conditions in the hen house.
Where to buy in Russia?
Silk chicken chickens can be purchased through the following contacts:
- Beekeeper, T. +7 (952) 240-14-71.
- Kurkurovo (Moscow region), T. +7 (985) 200-70-00.
Analogs
Bearded silk chickens can be considered a similar breed, but in Russia they are bred much less frequently than their fellows.
Dwarf chickens Milflera known for their lochmas on their paws. Following the link above, you can learn more about them.Well, for those who are interested in the Moscow black breed of chickens a separate article is written at: //selo.guru/ptitsa/kury/porody/myaso-yaichnye/moskovskie-chernye.html.
Getting our own farm, consisting of fluffy, white chickens, we should not forget that they, like any other breed, require the attention of the owner and careful, caring care. And then the hens will return everything a hundredfold, providing the host with medicinal and nutritious products.
