More and more Singaporeans are choosing to keep Silkie chickens as pets as opposed to traditional dogs or cats. We find out why—and what exactly these chickens are
About a week ago, Singapore watched in amusement as a man found a lost Silkie chicken while out one day. The chicken followed him home and though he put up an appeal for the owner, no one came forward to claim the bird, which he named Ryan.
Ryan was eventually adopted but during the time that they were together, Facebook users got to enjoy frequent updates about the bird's antics. These included Ryan following the man around the house and even to the shower, not wanting to step on grass and enjoying cuddles.
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Ryan's case, however, has shone a light on the increasing trend of people keeping chickens, particularly Silkie chickens, as pets in their homes.
Many are even choosing to keep these birds as opposed to regular dogs and cats simply because they are easy to care for, adorable and safe.
So we decided to take a look at why the Silkie chicken is becoming such a trendy and adorable pet to have.
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So what is a Silkie chicken?
A Silkie chicken, which is also known as the Silky or Chinese Silk chicken, is a type of chicken that is usually very fluffy and has feathers that feel like silk (hence the name).
This breed of chicken also has other unique qualities such as its black skin and bones as well as its blue earlobes. One quick way to identify if a chicken is a Silkie one or not is to also count its toes. Chickens typically have four toes. The Silkie chicken, however, has five.
Silkies are also pretty well known for their calm and friendly disposition. In fact, they are usually the most docile of their species.
In many parts of Asia, particularly in Chinese cuisine, Silkie chickens are used as a form of traditional medicine. In fact, making chicken soup with Silkies is common because it is viewed as a curative ingredient.
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