The Silk Hen
The Silk hen is one of the oldest hen breeds. It is an easy hen to keep thanks to its calm and sociable behavior. In addition, they have an elegant appearance with beautiful silky plumage.
Its history
Its history dates back to the end of the 13th century when the famous Italian merchant Marco Polo brought it to Europe. Indeed, during his trip to Asia, he was seduced by the beautiful plumage of the hen. He compared it to silk and decided to take it to his country. The silk hen is indeed native to China, but also to Japan.
It is one of the oldest breeds of all. It didn't take long for it to become a favorite in chicken houses because of its beautiful plumage. The silk hen was first recognised in Europe in 1852 and was called the silk negro because of its black flesh. The name Silk Hen was only voted in 2009 by the Technical Commission of Poultry Judges.
Appearance
There are two types of silk hens, namely the dwarf silk hen and the large breed silk hen. They are the same breed of hen, but they differ in size. While the dwarf hen weighs 500 grams, the large breed weighs over 1 kg. Each species can be either bearded or non-bearded.
In terms of appearance, they have unusual plumage with a beautiful crested head. However, the silk hen comes in a variety of colours, each as elegant as the next.
Character
The silk hen is particularly known for its affectionate character and behaviour. It can therefore be easy to tame and can be a perfect pet hen. Moreover, she has no problem living with children. And let's not forget its irresistible appearance.
On the other hand, its calmness and gentleness can be detrimental, especially in the presence of other more aggressive breeds. However, she is a very good brooder, but also a very good mother. She is very much in demand for brooding eggs.
Maintenance
Unlike other breeds of hens, they need a varied and complete diet. Therefore, a mixture of several types of pellets and cereals such as wheat, oats or corn should be preferred. In addition to this, she needs vegetable and animal proteins, so there is no need to worry about giving her meat, vegetables or cheese.
The maintenance of the silk hen is easy, as she eats a little of everything, which makes her even more pleasant to keep. She will eat salad, apple peelings and even eggshells. Nevertheless, it is important to vary her food.
Health
Silk hens are generally afraid of bad weather and draughts. It is therefore essential to keep them in a home that is sheltered from the cold, but especially from the rain. Indeed, it is also sensitive to humidity. This is due to its feathered legs, which gives it fragile health and exposes it to many diseases.
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