Docile and sweet: They are generally calm and gentle, making them a good choice for families with children. They are often curious and enjoy human interaction. Whenever an alarm was raised, the big rooster went out to herd the girls into their coop. Silkie would stand guard at the door flap encouraging them loudly to get under cover. I saw this several times and was amazed how the two roosters worked in tandem like tagging wrestlers. Sometimes Silkie would do the round up, but whatever the situation, they worked together. If they believe you have some goodies for them, they will approach you around the yard and converse with you.

Easy target to predators: They have bad eyesight due to the feathers covering their eyes, making them vulnerable to predators. Secure the run from predators. Not the best egg layers: There are better breeds to choose if you’re looking for a decent egg layer. The Frizzle breed has curled, fluffy plumage. The history of this bird is unknown, but many experts believe they came from the Far East in the 1800s. While this bird is a good egg layer, owners primarily keep them to enter into award shows.

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You can also easily domesticate them and find that they feel more at home in your home than in the coop. These qualities make them excellent pets. Cochin bantams tolerate cold weather and confinement well. Orpingtons are a dual-purpose breed with the hens especially good at egg laying. They can produce 3-5 large, brown eggs weekly and often lay well into the winter months. Thanks to all their feathers, Orpingtons are very cold hardy. Large fowl Orpingtons need plenty of coop space and low roosts due to their large size. Both large fowl Orpingtons and bantam Orpingtons adapt well to confinement or a free-range setting . #5. Faverolle Yet, beyond their appearance, Russian Orloffs have a reputation for being observant, cheerful, and approachable, which endears them to keepers. They’re known to lay eggs 1 to 2 times a week, adding to their charm. Today, the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is considered rare, but it continues to be popular among those who appreciate its unique looks and friendly personality. Pros: They start laying earlier in the year than most hens, starting up once the days begin to get longer – occasionally late December but more often early January.

The Chantecler was born and bred to survive the toughest Canadian winters. This makes them extremely cold hardy and great in tough climates. However, some roosters can be aggressive. Most Ameraucanas have muffs and beards standing on end to give them a fluffed appearance. Their tails standing upright at around 45 degrees make them look robust. The hens are mainly used for ornamental and practical purposes. They are excellent white egg layers, sometimes called “Everyday Layers.” Silkies also have crest feathers and feathered feet. In essence, their whole body is covered in feathers from head to toe. Some Silkie varieties even have muff and beard feathers on their face, which can give them the look of a fluffy teddy bear! The bantam Cochin resembles the standard Cochin but is smaller than the latter. This means the bantam Cochin is also more fluffy and cuter than the standard one. Cochin bantams are receptive to cuddling and are friendly.Apart from their famed physical traits, Sapphire Gems have an easy-going, gentle, and observant personality. These characteristics make them a hit among children and adults alike. This breed is not just cold hardy; it is everything hardy. No matter the weather or climate, you can bet on these independent hens to be roaming about your yard without a care in the world. They make great foragers and do well taking care of themselves. They like to manage themselves and usually won’t approach you unless you have food. These highly active and vigilant birds are excellent flyers and a great forager and economical, getting most of their food from foraging. They are one of the broodiest breeds and have no problem adopting eggs that are not their own to hatch for you.

The breed is known to be extremely cold-hardy. The winters in Russia can be harsh, so it adapted to these extreme temperatures. They don’t do well in warm temperatures. Pros: As a dual purpose breed, they are good layers and will usually lay eggs 3-5 times per week. These eggs are normally light brown and medium sized. British Poultry Standard for Silkies". Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 2011-10-26.Silkies lay a fair number of eggs, ranging from white to cream or light tan, but production is often interrupted due to their extreme tendency to go broody. A silkie hen can produce 100 eggs in an ideal year. Their capacity for incubation, which has been selectively bred out of most fowl bred especially for egg production, is often exploited by poultry keepers by allowing Silkies to raise the offspring of other birds. [3] In cuisine [ edit ] Silkie soup sold in Bukit Batok, Singapore