These birds have been mentioned in writings for several hundred years. The explorer Marco Polo described discovering chickens with "fur". 

They make good pets and are excellent broodies,  Although many people tend to think of them as bantams, in the UK silkies are classed as large fowl.

However, in the last few years a proper bantam strain has been developed. Silkies are one of the oddities of the poultry world with their nearly black skin, face, comb, wattles and bones, and their hair-like plumage in which there is no web. Ancient writers referred to fowl with hair instead of feathers and they are believed to have originated in Japan although information of them also comes from India, China and the Malay states. They are further distinguished by a crest, also bearded and non-bearded varieties, and five toes.

Laverlaw Farm Chickens

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