Silkie hatching eggs and chicks cost anywhere from $3-10, and grown hens and co*ckerels are typically in the $20-40 range depending on the variety. There are also show birds that command a much higher price tag.
In this article, we’re looking at how much Silkies cost, where you can buy Silkies hear you, and why they’re such fantastic breeds of backyard chickens:
Table of Contents
How Much Does a Silkie Hen Cost?
Sexing Silkies is difficult and not something that can be done reliably until they are somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks of age.
This is why you will see chicks being sold as unsexed or 'straight run' with no guarantees of how many females or males you're going to get.
So, if you're buying chicks the price is the same whether they are male or female.
If you're buying mature birds that have been sexed so you know for sure that you're buying a hen, depending on the variety you can expect to pay between $20-40.
How Much Does a Silkie Rooster Cost?
Roosters always cost less than hens. This is because they don't lay eggs, and they are more aggressive and it's more difficult to raise them.
You typically only need one rooster for every 5 hens, so that should give you an idea of just how dispensable they are.
If you're looking to buy mature roosters, if you have a good look around you should be able to find them for around $10-20.
Related - This post explains how to tell the difference between Silkie hens and roosters.
Are There Silkie Bantams for Sale Near Me?
In my experience, it's not always easy to find silkies for sale and a lot of local hatcheries probably will not sell them.
The best way to find exactly what you’re looking for is to contact an online hatchery that ships nationwide like Cackle Hatchery.
Cackle Hatchery stocks hundreds of different varieties of poultry, and at the time of writing this they had several varieties of Silkies in stock; Blue, White, Black, Splash, Buff, and some special varieties.
You can check out what varieties of Silkies Cackle Hatchery has available right now by clicking here.
Why Are Silkie Chickens So Expensive?
Silkies do cost a little more than most of the other popular breeds of backyard chickens. This comes down to supply and demand for the most part.
Being ornamental birds, there is some demand for Silkies and this often comes with owners wanting a specific variety.
But as Silkies are not great layers, they’re not amongst the top few in terms of popularity and I think it can be difficult for hatcheries to sell them sometimes.
As a popular show bird, if you’re looking for a show quality Silkie you can expect to pay a high price.
As for regular baby chicks, Silkies are not that expensive. You can pick up most varieties from Cackle Hatchery for as low as $3.80/ea, this is the lowest price I’ve seen online.
If you’re looking for laying-age Silkies, I’ve seen them being sold for $20-40. It’s hard to put a price on Showgirls as there are so many factors that affect the price.
Are Silkie Chickens High Maintenance?
No, Silkies are not high maintenance, don’t let that thought put you off!
Silkies look a little high maintenance compared to other chickens with their fluffy plumage, but there's really not much more to do than with regular chickens.
It does help if you brush through their feathers once a week or so. Not so much to keep them looking in tip-top shape, it also helps you keep an eye out for lice, mites, and the general condition of their feathers.
Just like any other chickens, they need to be locked up securely overnight in the coop and appreciate being given a decent amount of room to roam around in the day.
It's fair to say that silkies are not the most cold-hardy birds and you do have to keep an eye on a couple of things in the winter months;
The first thing to be aware of is soggy feet and leg feathers. Obviously, this applies to Silkies that have a lot of fur on their feet and legs, as some have more than others.
You don't want to leave them with wet left feathers in cold conditions, this can cause some health issues like scaly legs, which is caused by mites.
Frostbite can also be a problem during the winter months. Their walnut combs are not as susceptible to frostbite as longer combs are, but it’s something to be aware of.
As is frostbite on their legs or feet due to having cold and damp legs and feet due to soggy feathers.
Apart from these things, keep in mind that Silkies are backyard chickens. They’ll be happy scratching around for bugs and insects to eat, interacting with one another, and see you at feeding time!
Related - Are Silkies friendly and how big do Silkies they get?
In Summary
Silkies typically cost a little more than most of the popular breeds of backyard chickens due to not being in as high of a demand and also due to being a unique breed.
They still aren’t expensive though. You can pick up chicks or hatching eggs for a few bucks each, and grown Silkies are usually in the $20-40 price range depending on the variety.
Resources
Image credits - Image by Sam Williams from Pixabay
