Silkie chickens are the clowns of the chicken world, with their fluffy plumage and odd but amusing personalities. But these funny birds have a serious question to answer: can they fly?
It’s a common question among people who are considering adding a Silkie to their backyard flock, so let’s take a closer look at what we know about these birds and their ability to take to the skies.
The first thing to know is that Silkies aren’t actually flightless—they just aren’t very good at it. Their tiny frames and disproportionately large feathers aren’t ideal for soaring through the air. They certainly can flap their wings and lift off, but they tend to fly only short distances before landing again, or they’ll roost in trees if they get the chance.
Once they’ve achieved liftoff, however, you may notice something unusual: even when flying away from you, Silkies will continue to make eye contact with you. It’s an endearing characteristic of these social creatures, and it’s part of what makes them such great pets or additions to your family home.
In spite of their flighty tendencies (get it? flighty?) Silkies rarely fly over fences or other barriers unless startled by sudden loud noises.
Can Silkie Chickens Fly?
Silkie chickens are often claimed to be incapable of flight. This is a common misconception many people have, but they can in fact fly just fine. Silkie chickens tend to avoid flying whenever possible, but they can take flight if the need arises. A Silkie will only attempt to fly if it feels threatened by a predator or if it is trying to escape from a fenced-in area. It is not likely that a silkie will try to fly over a large fence, but they could easily get over a short fence if they get spooked enough.
How High Can Silkie Chickens Fly?
The short answer is that Silkies can fly up about 3–4 feet. While their wings are proportionately smaller than some other breeds, they’re still able to fly a little bit—enough to get over fences from time to time. Some Silkie owners even report that their birds have made it onto the roof!
However, with such short flights, these birds usually won’t stray too far from home.
Of course, there is an exception to every rule. In the case of Silkies, there may be one or two in each flock who are able to fly higher and farther than the rest. These are known as “wing-strong” birds, and they will require additional measures to keep them contained if you don’t want them flying away.
Do Silkies Need Perches?
Silkie chickens do not need perches in order to be happy and healthy. However, that does not mean you should never give them perches.
Silkies are naturally ground-dwelling birds and don’t climb up high as most other chickens do. This means they will be just fine without perches.
In fact, perches could even cause your silkies harm. Silkie feathers are softer than those of regular breeds. They can become damaged more easily and won’t grow back as well as on a normal chicken. If there are sharp edges on the perch, such as a dowel or bar, your bird might get her feathers caught on it as she moves around to find a comfortable spot to sit at night.
This can pull out her feathers or break them off completely, which will leave bald spots on her body for weeks or months until new feathers grow in. If you still want to give your silkies access to perches despite the risks, be sure to provide one that is soft enough for them.
Can Silkies Climb?
Whether you keep your Silkies in the house or outside in the yard, it’s good to know what they are capable of doing. One of the most common questions that come up is whether Silkies can climb.
The short answer? Yes. Silkies can climb, although they will not attempt it unless they have a reason to do so. But since they are capable of climbing, it’s important to be aware of potential hazards and dangers that could result from their ability to scale heights.
How Likely Are Silkies to Escape?
As animals get larger, they are more likely to be able to escape an enclosure.
However, silkies are small and relatively inactive. They don’t fly well and they don’t climb well. In other words, they’re not a bird that typically escapes unless you create an opportunity for them to do so.
Because of their size and gentle nature, it’s possible for them to simply slip fences. Their feet are also tiny enough that they can slip through the wire on most chicken coops.
It may be tempting to have your silkies free range with your other birds but it is recommended that you keep them separate from the other chickens if possible due to their size.
If you do not want your silkies out of the coop or pen, make sure there are no gaps in the wire or openings less than 1/4 inch wide anywhere in the enclosure.
Are Silkies Good Backyard Chicken Pets?
Silkies are a popular choice of backyard chicken and they make great pets. They are gentle, intelligent, and easy to care for.
They are a small breed of chicken; most mature Silkies only weigh in at about three pounds. They have soft and fluffy feathers that feel like silk or satin. These feathers make them look like little balls of fluff. Most have black skin and five toes instead of the usual four. Silkie chickens also have tiny crests on top of their heads.
Their appearance is what makes them so charming and appealing, but they also make great pets because of their personalities. They are gentle and docile birds that easily adapt to free-range or coop life. They are not very good foragers, though, as their vision is poor due to the crest on top of their heads.
Silkies will do well with most other chickens, but they do tend to get bullied by larger breeds because they are so small and docile. If you want your Silkie chicken to be an outdoor pet, you should avoid having large breeds around them or keep them separate from the flock when they are outside.
In Summary
So, chickens are not all the same. They have different breeds and each of these breeds has different characteristics. Silkies do not have the same ability to fly as other chicken breeds. They have been bred to have fluffy wings and short wings, which allow them to only jump a few feet into the air, but not fly.
