This is just one of our flocks of Silkie chickens. We hatched these beauties from eggs laid by our primary group of Silkie hens which we affectionately call "Silkie Playland". We keep them in separate groups so we can track their genetics and avoid inbreeding.
The father of this group is a beautiful little guy we named "Chip". He was very special right from the beginning - he came to us from Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon, Missouri. Chip has a gentle and sweet personality that stood out from his first couple of days of life.
He arrived here on his third day of life (via overnight US Mail), pathetic and weak. He grew up into a beautiful little rooster and we had him sequestered to find him a new home/owner when it happened... a great love affair was born between Chip and another little Silkie hen named "Charo". She came to us from Tractor Supply and was a calm little bird who instantly fell in love with Chip. It was one of the most adorable relationships we ever fostered with the chickens.
The population of Silkie Playland has grown but not as a result of inbreeding. This group is all unrelated and that makes them very special to us.
SILKIE PLAYLAND
Chip is the only rooster in this group of 15 birds. They all stay in an extra large cage to protect them from hawks. Most Silkie chickens have impaired vision due to the feathers around their eyes so we keep them in covered pens to protect them from aerial predators who swoop in from above.
SILKIE ROOSTERS
Generally speaking our Silkie roosters have had very gentle personalities. They are often referred to as the "Teddy Bears" of the chicken world and after owning as many as we've had it is easy to understand how they acquired this reputation.