Silkie chick update

Silkies are now 5 weeks old & Skye 8 weeks - they are going threw there freaky stage - but still cute

Great pics Suz. They almost look like prehistoric birds.

I've read silkie have dark skin and bones. Do they taste any different from your standard chickens?

I quite like the "showgirl" variety (naked neck silkie). I guess coz they look so bizzare.

Awww they're adorable

Thanks Andoy they really are going threw an ugly stage lol, I don't remember my first 2 looking this strange

yes they do have black skin and bones, but I haven't eaten silkie meat (the colour would put me off) I believe its a delicacy in the orient though.

he he... I'm originally from the Philippines (though my mum is Manx), so I eat just about anything (google "balut" if you have a strong disposition).

Chickens run semi-wild in rural areas of the Philippines and they have a dark, plump and very muscular flesh almost like Pheasant, but not as tough and not as much sinew. I find chickens in Europe quite anemic in comparison (even the best free range chickens). I guess it's down to the breeding for 'white meat' (I prefer brown meat myself).

I was thinking of keeping silkies, but I couldn't keep a cockrel where I live (I would have the neighbours up in arms).

ewwww at balut

Oh or eeeeoooooooooowwwww (imagine screwed up nose ) have you actually eaten that ? I knew balut was duck embryo without googling my hubby has great delight in emailing gross pictures and asking if he could do the same with quails

The mini silkie cockerel that I have isn't very loud so doesn't annoy the neighbour, but I've read some good tips on keeping cockerels in dark boxes at night that saves early morning Doodling so people in built up areas can keep them.

Yup, I've eaten balut but not for a long time. It's delicious, a bit like a self contained miniature duck stew. It's easier to eat in poor lighting. Not all Filipinos eat it; the younger generation turn their noses up at it (bit like offal). Traditionally it is done with duck egg, I’m not sure why chicken eggs aren’t often used (I’ve never seen the chicken egg equivalent sold but I’ve heard of it). I guess you can do it with any egg, but you have to make sure the embryo has developed. So quite difficult for quail eggs.

My mum developed a craving for it when she was preggies with my sister. The only westerner I know who ate it with any regularity (most Western people try it out of curiosity or being dared). When my sister was born, she was quite hairy (a bit like a silkie).

Well I might try raising a couple of silkies later in the year.

andoy wrote: When my sister was born, she was quite hairy (a bit like a silkie).

I'm sure your sister will really appreciate you describing her as a hairy baby on the World Wide Web lol

Well that was my mother's description. Unfortunatley (or fortunately
for my sister) she didn't take any photos. Apparently she was covered
in dark hair all over that stood on end "a bit like a monkey" (again my
mother's description). Then after about a week or two it all fell off
and she was bald like a lizard.

She got over it. You have to have a sense of humour to be born into my family. It's "character building" as my dad used to say.