Description
Black Silkie Bantam Chicken
Breed Overview and Origin
The Black Bearded Silkie Bantam chicken is one of the most lovable bantams you can add to a backyard flock. If you want a small, fluffy chicken that looks unusual, enjoys gentle attention, and has strong broody instincts, this variety is a wonderful choice.
Silkies have been known for centuries because of their soft, hair-like feathering. In 1598, Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi described “wool-bearing chickens” with hair-like plumage, a description widely connected to early Silkies. Modern breed guides still point to that old description when discussing the Silkie’s unique feather texture.
Black Bearded Silkies are all black except for their turquoise earlobes and dark purple combs and wattles. Their soft plumage, black skin, feathered legs, five toes, beard, and gentle personality make them excellent pets, show birds, and broody mothers.
Appearance and Characteristics
Black Bearded Silkie Bantams have black plumage, black skin, black bones, dark flesh, feathered legs, and five toes on each foot. Their turquoise earlobes stand out beautifully against the dark face, comb, and wattles.
The beard gives the face a full, fluffy look. In addition, their soft Silkie feathering creates a fuzzy texture instead of the smooth feather structure seen in most chickens.
Cackle Hatchery’s blog on five-toed chicken breeds explains that most chickens have four toes, but Silkies are one of the breeds that typically have five. This trait is called polydactylism.
Black Bearded Silkie vs Other Silkie Colors
Black Bearded Silkies share the same basic Silkie traits with other Silkie varieties. The main difference is color.
Choose Black Bearded Silkies if you want a dark, dramatic bird with black plumage and turquoise earlobes. Choose White, Buff, Blue, Splash, or other Silkie colors if you prefer a lighter or more varied look.
You also do not have to choose only one color. Cackle Hatchery® offers a Mixed Silkie Bantam Special for customers who enjoy Silkies and do not need one exact color variety.
Bearded Silkie vs Non-Bearded Silkie
A bearded Silkie has extra feathering under the beak and around the face. That beard gives the bird a rounder, fuller, more “stuffed animal” look.
Non-bearded Silkies still have the soft feathering, dark skin, five toes, and gentle temperament, but their faces look cleaner and less fluffy. Choose Black Bearded Silkies if you like the full facial feathering and classic cuddly appearance.
Because the beard can collect moisture or feed, it helps to keep waterers clean and check facial feathers when conditions are wet or messy.
Egg Production and Utility
Black Bearded Silkie Bantams may lay small cream or tinted eggs, but they are not production layers. Most customers choose them for pets, show appeal, broodiness, and mothering ability.
Silkie hens are famous for wanting to sit. If you raise other chicken breeds that rarely go broody, a Silkie hen can often help hatch and raise chicks from other breeds.
That broody nature makes Silkies especially useful for hobby keepers who enjoy natural hatching. However, because they are small bantams, they cannot cover as many eggs as a large hen.
Broodiness and Mothering Ability
Black Bearded Silkie hens are consistently eager broodies. They often want to hatch eggs and raise chicks, even when the chicks are not their own breed.
Their calm nature and strong mothering instinct make them a favorite for small hatching projects. In addition, many keepers use Silkies as natural incubators for rare or less broody breeds.
If your goal is nonstop egg production, broodiness can feel inconvenient. However, if you enjoy hatching chicks naturally, this trait becomes one of the Silkie’s biggest strengths.
Temperament and Suitability
Black Bearded Silkies are gentle, sweet, and easy to love. Many customers describe them as pet-like, and they can be wonderful birds for families, hobby flocks, and anyone who enjoys calm bantams.
They are not aggressive flock bosses. Because of that, they often do best with other gentle birds or in a Silkie-friendly pen where larger, pushier breeds will not bully them.
Silkies can make great lap chickens with patient handling. They are small, soft, and people-friendly, which makes them a favorite for customers who want chickens for companionship as much as eggs.
Silkie Care Notes
Silkie feathering is beautiful, but it does not shed water like normal chicken feathers. For that reason, dry housing matters.
Keep the coop clean, dry, and draft protected. In wet weather, provide covered areas so the birds do not stay damp. Their feathered feet can also collect mud or snow, so foot checks are helpful during messy seasons.
Because their crest and beard can limit vision, Silkies may be easier targets for predators. A secure coop and protected run are especially important.
Is the Black Bearded Silkie Bantam Right for Your Flock?
Choose Black Bearded Silkies if you want:
A fluffy bantam pet
A gentle lap-style chicken
A black Silkie variety
A bird with turquoise earlobes
A five-toed chicken
A feather-footed bantam
A broody hen for natural hatching
A good mother for chicks
A showy ornamental bird
A Mixed Silkie Bantam Special option to compare
Overall, this bantam is a great choice if you want a sweet, soft, unusual chicken with strong broody instincts. While Black Bearded Silkies are not the best choice for heavy egg production or meat, they are excellent pets, mothers, and ornamental flock birds.
If you are still comparing bantams, browse Cackle Hatchery’s bantam chickens category or use the Chicken Breed Selector.
Breed History and Preservation
Silkies have an old and fascinating history. Their exact origin is debated, but they are closely associated with Asia and have been described by travelers and naturalists for hundreds of years.
Their unusual traits made them famous: soft feathering, black skin, five toes, feathered feet, and calm temperament. Over time, Silkies became popular as ornamental birds, show birds, pets, and broody mothers.
Black Silkies entered the American Poultry Association Standard in 1975, making Black the second Silkie variety accepted after the first Silkie variety entered the Standard decades earlier. Cackle’s product copy notes that the Black Silkie was accepted 91 years after the first Silkie variety became standardized.
Recognition and Availability
The Black Silkie variety entered the APA Standard in 1975. Black Bearded Silkies remain popular because they combine striking color with the Silkie’s well-known pet and mothering qualities.
Cackle Hatchery® offers several Silkie color varieties, along with the Mixed Silkie Bantam Special. For additional background, use Cackle’s Breed Spotlight: Silkie Bantam Chickens and 5 Chicken Breeds that Have 5 Toes as helpful internal resources.
Before you plan your order, check Cackle’s Availability Chart for current hatch and shipping options.
Related Breeds and Helpful Cackle Hatchery® Resources
If you like Black Bearded Silkies, you may also want to compare White Silkies, Buff Silkies, Blue Silkies, Splash Silkies, Paint Silkies, and the Mixed Silkie Bantam Special.
Helpful internal links include 5 Chicken Breeds that Have 5 Toes, Breed Spotlight: Silkie Bantam Chickens, Mixed Silkie Bantam Special, bantam chickens, and baby chicks for sale.
FAQ: Black Bearded Silkie Bantam Chicken
What is a Black Bearded Silkie Bantam chicken?
A Black Bearded Silkie Bantam is a small, fluffy bantam chicken with black plumage, black skin, feathered feet, five toes, a beard, turquoise earlobes, and strong broody instincts.
Are Black Bearded Silkies good pets?
Yes. Their gentle temperament, soft feathering, and people-friendly nature make them excellent backyard pets.
Do Black Bearded Silkies like to be held?
Many Silkies enjoy gentle handling and can become lap-style chickens. Patient, calm handling helps them become more comfortable with people.
What do Black Bearded Silkies look like?
They have black feathers, dark skin, a dark purple comb and wattles, turquoise earlobes, feathered feet, five toes, and a full beard.
Do Black Bearded Silkies have five toes?
Yes. Silkies typically have five toes on each foot. Cackle’s five-toed chicken breed blog explains that this trait is called polydactylism.
Are Black Bearded Silkies good egg layers?
They may lay small cream or tinted eggs, but they are not heavy production layers. Most customers choose them for pets, broodiness, show appeal, and mothering ability.
What color eggs do Black Bearded Silkies lay?
They usually lay small cream or tinted bantam eggs.
Are Black Bearded Silkies broody?
Yes. Silkie hens are famous for broodiness and often want to hatch eggs.
Are Black Bearded Silkies good mothers?
Yes. These hens are excellent mothers and can often hatch and raise chicks from other breeds.
Are Black Bearded Silkies good for beginners?
Yes, they can work well for beginners who want gentle bantams. However, they need dry housing, predator protection, clean water, balanced feed, and regular checks of feathered feet and facial feathers.
Do Black Bearded Silkies have feathered feet?
Yes. Silkies have feathered legs and feet, so dry bedding and clean runs help keep them comfortable.
Are Black Bearded Silkies cold hardy?
They can handle cool weather with the right setup, but their fluffy feathers do not shed water well. Keep them dry, draft protected, and out of wet conditions.
Are Black Bearded Silkies good in wet weather?
They need extra protection in wet weather. Their soft feathering can soak up moisture, so covered runs and dry bedding are important.
What is the difference between bearded and non-bearded Silkies?
Bearded Silkies have extra feathering under the beak and around the face. Non-bearded Silkies have a cleaner face but still have Silkie feathering, dark skin, feathered feet, and five toes.
When did Black Silkies enter the APA Standard?
The Black Silkie entered the American Poultry Association Standard in 1975.
Can Black Bearded Silkies come in Mixed Silkie Bantam Special?
Yes. The Mixed Silkie Bantam Special may include multiple Silkie colors, but assortment specials are hatchery choice and do not guarantee a specific color.
Where can I check chick availability?
Check Cackle Hatchery’s Availability Chart for current hatch and shipping options.
blueelysium83 –
Excellent chicks. I am an experienced poultry keeper and upon receiving chicks I closely examined the silkies the next day. This is because I show in 4H. I was happy to say that I found no defects such as no middle toe feathering and four instead of five toes on each foot. It’s definitely more expensive but worth your money. Because whether or not you show they are incredibly cute. They shipped nice and healthy from Missouri to Iowa. Got three extra, one of each breed I ordered. I will definitely buy from you instead of my old hatchery from now on. Some are a little droopy right now but I think they will make it.
Brett Shoemake –
Arrived happy and healthy! Looks to be a strong batch of chicks! Ordered 15 and got 3 extra for a total of 18! Thanks so much!
Growing feathers –
Birds doing well
Silkies growing well. Think mostly roosters but look good
Adorable little fluffy butts –
100% satisfied
I ordered 5 white Silkies and 5 black Silkies and only lost 1 white one. The black Silkies are my favorite, but I’m enjoying them all. My little white rooster is hilarious, he’s very protective of his girls and doesn’t like anything to come near them, he’ll chase them away no matter how big they are! I also have Buff Orpington that I purchased from Cackle Hatchery and I love them too! I won’t purchase my chickens from anywhere else!
SilkieChik12 –
Great little birds
I ordered some of these little guys and am happy I did. They are everything I wanted. They are really small.
4h kiddos –
Sweet birds!
Purchased as a 4h project and couldn’t be happier with the quality. Pleased with staff and look forward to business in the future.
Beautiful!! –
The Black Silkie Rooster we got is stunning!
He has been healthy, friendly and naturally protective of his girls. His feathers are shiny and bright. He’s just gorgeous!
Peggy from Kansas –
Perfect little silkies
Ordered 12 silkies and got a couple extras!! Very healthy from day one! Will be ordering more next year! Great communication. Thanks!!
Carrie –
Thanks
I love my silkies. They are so beautiful and sweet.
Jaclyn –
Black Silkie
We got ordered 5 and received 6. All the chicks survived and are doing well. They survived their trip to the county fair this year all receiving blue ribbons. They live well with the other chicken breeds we purchased at the same time. (Mottled Houdan, Golden Laced Polish, Dark Brahma, and the Naked Necks)! They are very gentle and we enjoy having them in our chicken family.
Pamela –
Everyone of them have been perfect!
Your hatchery is consistently exceeding my expectations with my beautiful black silkies, that have all become beautifully developed and top quality
Sam –
Love these little guys
I was nervous about ordering live animals and having them shipped to me as I had never done this before. Ordered 10, along with other breeds of chicks and received 11 healthy chicks. It has been a few months now, 10 are hens and one rooster so I could not be more pleased! All are friendly and healthy and I’m really happy and recommend these babies!
Chick lady –
Black silkies
I ordered 5 black Silkies received 6. Unfortunately two passed first two weeks which is common. So they come unsexed. I ended up having 3 out of the 4 being roosters. But it’s ok because I have 14 hens. They are so cute and healthy. Super friendly. My small lady is super adorable. A crowd favorite. I love cackle hatchery. Will order more chicks in future. The rest of my chickens I ordered with the Silkies are thriving.
Mrs. Stevens –
Excellent quality
The black silkies were by far my favorite out of all the colors I ordered. They have grown into beautiful birds. I am overall impressed with them.
Heather –
Very impressed!
I was very impressed with all of the black silkie bantam chicks. They all arrived very active and healthy! But I waited for 3 months to write a review because I wanted to see how they would turn out. They are a wonderful breed! They are super friendly with both people and other birds. Not to mention that they are adorable!! I will definitely be ordering from you guys again. Thank you for your dedication to both your birds and your clients!!
Robert –
Gorgeous Birds
This is my third time ordering silkie chickens from this company this is the only company I seem to get good breeding any good coloring from this will be the only company I stick with purchasing my silky breed from thank you so much cackle hatchery
Black Silkies –
Cute but Fragile
I purchased several black silkies, and while I found them to be adorable, they were terribly fragile. I think we purchased 10, but we lost a few. Those we lost, the first time around, were replaced. We lost most of those that were sent as replacements. We did everything we were supposed to; apple cider vinegar w/mother in the water, boiled egg yolk, etc. Our white silkies did great, and we’ve been very pleased! I don’t think that it was anything in particular that Cackle Hatchery did, but more that they were just fragile. We’ve always been very pleased with the birds we’ve received from Cackle Hatchery, and we will continue to order our birds there!
Mel –
Squishy balls of fluff
All arrived alive and well and are currently thriving. A little bigger than the white silkies I got and I’m okay with it. They are super docile and love hanging out with their Easter eggers big sisters. Would definitely get again. Their color gets a lot of compliments from everyone who sees them.
Chicken Farmer Harper –
Love them.
I ordered a mix of silkies. They all arrived well! We have 2 black roosters and 3 black hens. They are adorable and very mild mannered. I love them!
AL –
Neat Birds
These are very cut little birds that are quiet. They add a unique look to a flock of birds. Very fluffy. Ordered 5 chicks. 2 didn’t make it for some reason or another but ended up with 3 full grown all hens so that I consider a win.
Doc –
Awesome silkies
Thanks so much! They did very well! Extra chicks were sent. We will be ordering more as my adult died from predation.
easilyammused –
Yay!wonderful joy in the form of little fuzzie things!!!
i am surprised how healthy & extremely strong these guys were when i opened the box.for their tiny little mini-bodies, they seem to be fairing quite welly, they have only been here for about 3 days & even are growing some, already!!! 😀 they are super friendly; a wonderful breed!!! i think i will have to always get my silkies here in the future; All other hatcheries i have bought silkies from were DOA, or at least half-dead & most conked out for no apparent reason in less than 3 hrs.
Amanda –
Adorable black fluffballs
My chicks arrived today and all 16 survived the trip. My kids couldn’t be happier with them. I’m so glad I ordered them from you! I will be ordering more chicks once we know how many males/females we got.
Gina Washington June 2009 –
Cackle Hatchery
My chicks arrived this morning and all are in fine shape. They are eating and drinking like little dinosaurs!! Thank you for a great shipment.
Laurie Texas May 2009 –
Thank You
A huge thanks for my bantam chickens. All 25 plus the extras sent arrived doing well, and here we are three weeks later and all chicks are still going strong. I have purchased chickens from two or three different local places before and lost some here and there, so I am very impressed with how they all are doing. I will definitely recommend your hatchery to my poultry friends, and plan to order from you again when we’re ready for more
Rachel Missouri January 2010 –
Order
You carried all of the chicks that I wanted and you minimum is 15 and the shipping charges are not as bad. Plus I live in Missouri also and it is good to support our area. Thanks for making me a happy customer
Roy –
Great Satisfaction
I have to say how happy I am with my order. I ordered 25 black Silkies from you. All arrived safely and in good health. I must also say how happy I was to receive my 28 live birds. I consider it a sign of class and of a well run operation that includes extra birds in their shipments. I WILL be ordering from you next spring. Everyone I spoke to at your company was very helpful. I placed my order with Bettina I did not catch anyone else name but every person I spoke to was a professional. Thank you for customer service. I strongly recommend that anyone who reads this to order from this company.