Fancy Birds

Fancy Birds

Many people love to have fancy birds at their homes. They keep company with households and a good past time too for them.

Rhode Island Red

Rhode Island Red 

The Rhode Island Red is a striking bird with the contrast between the dark red body color, black tail with a “beetle green” sheen and the bright red comb and wattles. It is docile and has good egg laying capacity and possess tastier meat and hence an ideal backyard bird.

The origin of the breed dates back to a fowl bred in Rhode Island in the mid 1800s; hence the name of the breed. According to most accounts, the breed was developed by crossing Red Malay Game, Leghorn and Asiatic stock. There are two varieties of the breed, single comb and rose comb and to this day there is debate over which was the original variety. The breed was developed, as were most of the American breeds, in response to demand for a general purpose (meat and eggs), yellow skinned, brown egg laying bird. These birds quickly became a favorite of the commercial industry because of their laying capabilities and quick growth. Rhode Island Reds were admitted to the American Poultry Association (APA) Standard of Perfection in 1904.

Silkie

The Silkie (sometimes alternatively spelled Silky) is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is feels like silk. The breed has several colors such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. They are often exhibited in shows, and appear in various colors.

In addition to their distinctive physical characteristics, Silkies are well known for their calm, friendly temperament. Among the most docile of poultry, Silkies are considered an ideal pet. Hens are also exceptionally broody, and make good mothers. Though they are fair layers themselves, laying about three eggs a week. It is origin is ancient China (hence another occasionally encountered name for the bird, Chinese silk chicken). 

The breed was recognized officially in North America with acceptance into the Standard of Perfectionin 1874. In the 21st century, Silkies are one of the most popular and ornamental breeds of chicken. They are often kept as ornamental fowl or pet chickens by backyard keepers.

Characteristics

Silkies are often mistakenly called a Bantam breed, and although they are considered bantams in some countries, this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only 1.8 kg, and females weighing 1.36 kg. The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 1 kg, and females that are 910 g.

The feathers lack functioning barbicels, and are thus similar to down on other birds and leave Silkies unable to fly. The overall result is a soft, fluffy appearance.Silkies appear in two distinct varieties: Bearded and Non-bearded. Bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that covers the earlobes. They also are separated according to color. Colors of Silkie recognized for competitive showing include Black, Blue, Buff, Grey, Partridge, and White. Alternative hues, such as Cuckoo, Lavender, Red, and Splash also exist. The standards of perfection call for all Silkies to have a small Walnut Comb dark wattles, and blue earlobes. In addition to these defining characteristics, Silkies have five toes on each foot. 

Silkies lay a fair number of cream-colored eggs, but production is often interrupted due to their extreme tendency to go broody; a hen will produce 100 eggs in a year.  Silkie birds are good mothers, as they are renowned for their calm, friendly temperament. They do well in confinement, and interact very well with children. This docility can cause Silkies to be bullied by more active or aggressive birds when kept in mixed flocks.

Aseel cock