Above Many local breeders incubate Silkie chicken eggs and raise Silkies from when they are chicks.
Why do they make good pets?
There are many reasons why Silkie chickens make for excellent pets as opposed to animals such as cats or dogs or even other birds. For one, Silkie chickens cannot fly. This means that they are much easier to contain and you don't have to worry too much about them escaping.
Considering their calm and friendly temperament, Silkies are also really great for households with younger children as they are unlikely to get aggressive. In fact, once a Silkie chicken becomes comfortable with you, you can actually cuddle them and pet them almost as if they were a puppy. Silkies are also very intelligent creatures and can be trained to respond when called. They will also likely follow you around the house, much like what Ryan did.
While it is true that your chickens will likely crow in the morning and intermittently throughout the day, they are no more noisy than a typical cat or dog. If insects are the bane of your existence in your home, a Silkie chicken will also eat them up which makes them an excellent form of insect repellant.
Jazz Chong, the founder and owner of Ode to Art gallery and her architect husband, Edmund Ng, own four Silkie chickens of their own and they are absolutely smitten with them. The couple and their children were offered Silkie chicken eggs last year and decided to put them in the incubator they had at home.
Chong said: "Every morning, the whole family would monitor the incubator, after 21 days we saw the eggs hatch and over the next few months, we watched the adorable baby chicks grow into beautiful, soft Silkies. It was a moving bonding experience for all of us."
She added that though they had stumbled upon Silkie chickens by accident, they ended up being the perfect pets for her and her family.
"They are relatively quiet, so my neighbours are not disturbed. They are as fluffy as a cat or a dog, and my kids love to play with them. They have so much fun together. Even feeding them every morning has become our fun little family routine," Chong said.
That said, chicken enthusiast and owner of Facebook Group SG Polish Chickens, a community that aims at educating the public about responsible chicken ownership in Singapore, Jayce Ho, warns that even Silkies can turn out to be aggressive. She said: "Cute chicks may turn out to be a noisy and aggressive rooster, even for mild breeds such as Silkies and Polish."
She went on to warn potential owners that this should be something to already anticipate when thinking of getting a Silkie chicken as a pet as it is not right to simply abandon your chicken later on in life when they grow up.
(Related: 10 Best Dog-Friendly Cafes and Restaurants in Singapore)
Above Silkie chickens can clean themselves and technically require very little maintenance.
Are they legal and safe?
Silkie chickens are perfectly legal in private residential areas. In fact, you can keep up to 10 chickens in your home if you have the space to do so.
If you choose to have that many chickens in your home, they will need to be caged in a well-ventilated chicken coop and run to ensure that they do not escape and disturb other residents.
Chong mentioned that she herself used to keep her chickens in the house till they got bigger. She said: "We had them in the house when they were chicks, but now they need their space, so they roam free in my (enclosed) backyard, where we installed a small henhouse. It has become my kids’ favourite area to play in."
She added that Silkie chickens, particularly the females, tend to be on the smaller side compared to other breeds which means they don't need much space in general. However, she does stress that it is important that a Silkie chicken does not get cold or wet and so a sheltered area is very important for them.
Not to mention, if you are worried that your Silkie chicken might be dirty or unhygienic, you can rest easy. As long as you put them in a clean environment, your chicken will clean itself. They are surprisingly low-maintenance.
You can also freely use your Silkie chicken for fresh eggs and skip that aisle in the supermarket.
Also, as Bird Flu does not exist in Singapore, you do not need to worry about it.
(Related: Kitchen Tour: A Cat-Friendly Culinary Zone Made For An Architect's Family And Their Pets)
Above If you live in a HDB, you will not be allowed to keep a chicken as a pet unfortunately. (Image: Jazz Chong)
Where can I get a Silkie chicken in Singapore?
Unlike regular pets, you are not going to find a Silkie chicken at a normal pet store. In fact, many chicken enthusiasts actually discourage you from trying to go out and buy a Silkie chicken as it can encourage breeders to breed and sell these beautiful birds illegally and irresponsibly.
However, it is legal to get a Silkie egg, incubate it and then raise the chick. However, Ho emphasises the need to really put thought into the decision. She said: "Always make sure that you discuss with your family members before hatching or committing to any pets. You may end up hatching roosters. Are you able to handle its aggressiveness and crowing?"
She added that her own family discussed and planned for over a year before they themselves committed to keeping chickens in their home.
You can also choose to adopt abandoned chickens if you are able to. Currently, many chickens, in particular, get abandoned when they grow up and are no longer small and cute.
Remember that Silkie chickens have a lifespan of around nine years and though they are easy to care for, they still require knowledge and appropriate handling as well as daily care. One should always be responsible, not buy these birds on impulse and seek out legal and well-researched places if you are looking to adopt a chicken or to incubate an egg.
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