Do silkie hens have fur or feathers?

Most birds’ feathers have tiny barbs on them, with even smaller barbs called barbules; the barbules have even tinier barbs that interlock. This forms the surface of the feather. It’s why strands of the feather can separate. read more

Unlike most backyard chickens which have yellow skin, silkies have black skin. Their skin is very dark, and this makes them a popular delicacy in some Asian countries. It also makes them wonderfully colored. If their feathers are black, then the black skin underneath makes the feathers look blacker. read more

Silkie feathering is recessive, so any pure silkie out of 2 silkie-feathered parents will have silkie feathers. If any smooth feathered bird not carrying the silkie gene is bred with a silkie feathered bird, 100% of the offspring would be smooth feathered, het for silkie feathering. read more