Silkie chickens are good foragers, they love to explore their environment and feed themselves.
Its egg is like a normal egg, they have no specific difference except its appearance, taste, and flavor are match normal eggs.
And yes you can eat silkie chicken eggs without any problem.
What Is Silkie Chicken?
Silkie chickens originated in China, and are famous for their fluffy plumage, cute appearance, and friendly, docile nature.
They are mostly raised for ornamental purposes as they have a unique look that’s why.
Silkie chickens are easy to care for and do not require any special attention all the time, they are broody and good at hatching eggs.
Splash Silkie is one of the famous varieties of silkie chickens you would love to know about.
Can You Eat Silkie Chicken Eggs?
Yes, you can eat silkie chicken eggs, without any problem.
However, the breakfast made by the Silkie chicken eggs is a little bit small, because the Silkie eggs are small.
Silkie chicken eggs taste like regular eggs, but their yolks are bigger.
What is the Taste of Silkie Eggs?
The taste of silkie eggs is the same as other chicken eggs.
If you experience that the silkie eggs are different in taste, this is just the effect of their diet or what they eat.
The yolk of silkie chicken eggs is bigger than normal eggs
What are the Beneficial Nutrients in Silkie Eggs?
Eggs contain lots of beneficial nutrients that are good for us, eggs are considered a superfood because of their excellent nutrients.
Eggs contain high levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals and are a great source of good nutrients.
Most importantly they contain cholesterol and choline awesome! Choline is used in the brain to make signaling molecules and build cell membranes.
Eggs also improve heart and eye health to help in weight loss.
Are Silkie Eggs Costly?
Silkie hen eggs are rare and a bit more costly than regular eggs, varying from 6$ to 10$ per dozen if you are buying local markets.
And if you want fertilized eggs for hatching then they command higher prices, varying from 20$ to 50$ per dozen.
However, the prices are depending on the region and market rates.
How to Store Silkie Eggs for a Long Time?
If you want to store silkie eggs for a long time, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Whenever you collect the eggs from hens, be soft and gentle to avoid cracking or breaking the eggs.
Silkie eggs are susceptible to bacteria due to their permeable shells, so use a soft and dry cloth to remove any dirt or dust from the eggs.
|
Remember: Don’t use water when cleaning silkie eggs, avoid washing silkie eggs, until you are ready to cook or incubate them. Their shells contain a natural protective barrier called “bloom” that prevents bacteria from entering. When you use water for cleaning the bloom would be damaged. |
Place silkie eggs in the refrigerator with the pointed end down to keep the yolk centered and the air cell fixed, which helps maintain the egg’s quality over time.
Normal recommended temperatures for eggs are between 35 Fahrenheit to 40 Fahrenheit (1.7°C to 4.4°C)
If you want to hatch the silkie eggs, then they should be stored at a slightly warmer temperature, around 55°F (13°C), and at a higher humidity before incubation.
At What Age Silkies Start Laying Eggs?
At the age of 7-9 months, silkie chickens start laying eggs, but some may take a long time to start producing eggs.
The longer they take to lay their first egg, the more eggs they will produce.
Silkie chickens won’t stop eggs laying suddenly, they gradually slow the rate of egg production after consistently laying eggs for 2-3 years.
How Many Eggs Does Silkie Chicken Lay?
Silkie chickens lay between 100 to 120 eggs small, cream-colored a year, meaning approximately 3 to 4 eggs per week.
The main reason for the breaks in laying is because they tend to broody often. Silkies are natural mothers and love nothing more than sitting on eggs and incubating them.
And they are broody, that’s why they take a break from laying eggs to sit on eggs.
A calm environment and optimum diet will boost their egg production rate.
What is the Size, Weight, and Color of Silkie Eggs?
Silkie chickens lay cream-colored, and some silkies lay white, or off-white eggs and their eggs have thin shells. That’s why silkie eggs are more fragile.
The difference between Silkie eggs and normal brown eggs is that Silkie eggs have a more matte appearance, while normal brown eggs appear shinier and more polished.
Their eggs are small in size and normally their weight is 1.5-2 ounces,
How to Incubate and Hatch the Silkie Eggs?
Who will not want silkie chicks?
Silkie chickens are known for their exceptional look and friendly, docile nature; these unique qualities make them perfect for anyone, even for beginners.
If you are interested in having silkie chicks and want to incubate and hatch their eggs here are some tips to follow before choosing eggs for incubating and hatching.
- Choose clean eggs.
- Choose new eggs, not older than 10 days.
- Choose eggs that are appropriate in size and color for the breed.
- Choose eggs that have No cracks.
- Choose the same size of eggs.
- Choose eggs that are from well-fed and happy chickens.
- If possible choose eggs that are collected from hens during their second season.
-
Incubation Period for Silkie Eggs
The incubation period for Silkie chickens spans from 20 to 21 days. Interestingly, eggs from bantams, like the ones your Silkies produce, tend to hatch earlier than those laid by larger fowls.
If you just have Silkie eggs in the incubator, it’s advisable to stop turning them on day 17 instead of waiting until day 18.
Exceptionally, Silkies exhibit a fascinating hatching window, ranging from as early as 19 days to as late as 22 days.
-
Required Humidity and Temperature
Before placing the eggs, make sure to set up the incubator and let it run for a minimum of 24 hours.
In the initial 17 days, maintain the humidity levels within the range of 45% to 55%. As you close the hatching phase, set the humidity settings between 55% and 65%.
Notably, hatching Silkie eggs demands extra humidity care due to their shell resembling porcelain in nature.
In the case of a forced air incubator, maintain a temperature of 99.1°F, while for a still air incubator, the ideal temperature is 101°F.
mark your eggs with a non-toxic marker or pencil to ensure accurate turning, or confirm the functionality of the automatic egg turner if your incubator is equipped with one.
FAQs
Can You Eat Silkie Chicken Eggs?
Yes, you can eat silkie eggs.
What is silkie chicken?
Silkie chickens originated in China, and are famous for their fluffy plumage, cute appearance, and friendly, docile nature.
They are mostly raised for ornamental purposes as they have a unique look that’s why.
Silkie chickens are easy to care for and do not require any special attention all the time, they are broody and good at hatching eggs.
What are silkie chickens used for?
Silkie chickens are mostly used for ornamental purposes as they have a unique appearance and friendly temperament, also they lay on average 110 eggs a year So which is also a reason for their use.
What are silkie chickens good for?
They are good for ornamental purposes and egg laying, their unique appearance makes any flock or backyard exceptional.
Are Silkie Hen Eggs better than normal eggs?
No, their eggs are the same as normal eggs and there is not any specific point that makes silkie eggs better than normal eggs.
Is it safe to eat Silkie chicken eggs?
Yes, it is safe to eat silkie chicken eggs, however, your breakfast will be a little small.
Are silkie eggs costly?
Silkie eggs are rare and a bit more costly than normal eggs, varying from 6$ to 10$ per dozen if you are buying local markets.
And if you want fertilized eggs for hatching then they command higher prices, varying from 20$ to 50$ per dozen.
However, the prices are depending on the region and market rates.
How many eggs do silkie hens lay?
Silkie chickens lay between 100 to 120 eggs a year, meaning 3 or 4 a week.
Do silkie hens lay eggs in cold weather?
Yes, they will lay eggs throughout the cold weather or winter because of their fluffy feathers which make them warm.
Can I eat silkie chicken?
Yes, you can eat silkie chicken, they are good for soup and stocks.
Can silkie chicken be raised for eggs?
They are specially raised for ornamental purposes, however, their egg-laying ability is also a reason for raising silkie chickens.
Why are silkie chickens famous?
Their fluffy appearance, exceptional look, egg-laying ability, perfect broodiness, and friendly temperament make them so famous in poultry enthusiasts’ hearts and on social media.
Can You Eat Silkie Chicken Eggs? Final Thoughts
In summary, the silkie eggs are not bad for anyone, you can eat them and enjoy them without any hesitation.
While silkie chickens do not lay so many eggs, their fluffy feathers and mesmerizing look will give joy for a long time.
Silkie chicken pets are perfect for any individuals and families who want to add a unique look to their home and flock or backyard.
If you want to have silkie chicks just follow the above incubating and hatching the silkies eggs guide and after some time you have small mesmerizing silkie chicks.
Have you ever raised a silkie pet? Feel free to share thoughts about your chickens and flock. We would love to hear them!