Black Silkie Bantams

The poodle of the Bantam heritage breeds, from Japan and China, these fluffy silkies will keep themselves preened so you don’t have to. These gorgeous Bantams have black skin, dark meat, five toes, and will often “adopt” other chicks or hatch their own.

Description at 1 Day Old:

Soft black down, often featuring dark beaks, black skin, feathered feet, and five toes on each foot.

Description at Maturity:

Larger bantams with soft, silky black hair like plumage, fluffy rounded crests, feathered legs and feet, distinctive dark skin, and dark walnut-shaped combs.

What color eggs do Black Silkie Bantams lay, and how many a year?

Black Silkie hens lay about 100 small cream eggs a year. They are kept more as pets and mother hens than for eggs. Folks also search for it as Black Silky or Silky chicken.

When do Black Silkie Bantam hens start laying?

Silkies usually start laying between 22 and 24 weeks.

Can I order only Black Silkie Bantam hens?

Our breed-specific bantams are straight run only, boxed as hatched, so expect a mix of roosters and hens. Silkies are hard to sex young. Roosters usually show it by crowing and growing taller crests and longer neck feathers.

Are Black Silkie Bantams cold hardy, and what is their temperament?

Silkies are cold tolerant with shelter but do poorly in wet weather, since their fluffy feathers don't shed water. They are extremely docile and great with kids, and they will hatch their own chicks or adopt others.

Do you ship Black Silkie bantam chicks?

Yes. You pick your ship week in the cart from the weeks we are hatching. We ship by USPS to every state except Hawaii. Order minimums change by season, and your cart shows the current minimum before checkout. Every order is covered by our 100% Live Arrival Guarantee. If they don't arrive alive, call us within 48 hours and we will make it right. Count your chicks when you get them home.

What is the difference between a Black Silkie and a White Silkie?

Only feather color. Both have fluffy, hair-like feathers, black skin, five toes, and the same gentle, broody nature.