silky bantam or just silky

Tanner · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:57 pm **Posts:** 3

Is the correct term silky bantam or just silky or is there both I keep getting told there is no such thing as a silky bantam

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

The Silkie is a standard breed not a bantam, although many people call them a bantam ( they are not).

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Dispute above statement
They DO come in standard size and bantam and both are recognised in the Australian Poultry Standard – categorised as – Origin – Asia, Classification – Light Breed, Softfeather

weights quoted from my copy of the APS =

Std size weight =
Male = 1.58 kg – 2kg
Female = 1.15 – 1.58 kg

Bantam size =
Male = 579g – 680g = 0.579kg – 0.680kg
Female = 455g – 570g = 0.455kg – 0.579kg

99% of the ones offered in OZ are std size as only 3 or 4 in OZ have the actual bantam size and they are rarely offered to the public – I have both but prefer the bantam

there is also a Giant Silkie - not recognised and may never be - but has been shown under AOV at a Bathurst Show - I saw these birds and was a bit freaked out - they were almost as big as a std size Orpington or Brahma

IF someone advertises their Silkies as Bantam Silkie or ‘Rare’ Chinese Bantam Silkie or any combination of these = ask them to give you the adult birds weights [and if possible witness the weighing] – it is usually a marketing ploy to sell the offspring as they are only 'Silkie' [std or bantam] in OZ

Applegate · **Joined:** Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:18 pm **Posts:** 1

Have a read of this http://www.courtneypoultry.co.uk/id16.html

Tanner · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:57 pm **Posts:** 3

I am a little confused but I think in australia we may only have the 1? is that right?

OakA · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:15 am

No confusion Tanner,
You're right, in Australia what you will normally see is #1 or Standard Silkie.
But Soozorps (above) has said she has the bantams along with 3 or 4 other breeders, so someone has spent the time and patience to produce the bantamised version.
She also states that there are a line of Giant Silkies, she has seen them and they have been shown.
I think I may have come across the Giants, almost the size of a white Wyandotte, but have never seen the bantam myself.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Oaklands wrote:

No confusion Tanner,
You're right, in Australia what you will normally see is #1 or Standard Silkie.
But Soozorps (above) has said she has the bantams along with 3 or 4 other breeders, so someone has spent the time and patience to produce the bantamised version. I got mine years and years and years ago from a lovely ‘ancient’ old lady who had owned the ‘line’ for absolutely ages herself – her grandfather brought them with them when they emigrated - I didn’t bantamise them – they were bought ‘ready made’ – the others would probably have bantamised tho = and fantastic that they have :-D

and some must have shown them or verified to the APS Board the size etc for them to be in the 'book'
She also states that there are a line of Giant Silkies, she has seen them and they have been shown.
I think I may have come across the Giants, almost the size of a white Wyandotte, yep that’s about the size these were, maybe a bit bigger, my son saw them first and shouted ‘MUM COME LOOK AT THESE WIERD SILKIES!” = made us very unpopular in the poultry shed that day :shock:

but everyone got over it thankfully! but have never seen the bantam myself. bit bigger than a Jap Bantam

Tanner · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:57 pm **Posts:** 3

Is it at all possible to see some pictures of the bantams and giants please?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Would have to hunt down the owners of the ‘giants’ they live in another state to me Oaklands may see them again = perhaps when does could take pics

Will post pics of my Silkies - need to take current ones

stann · **Joined:** Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:06 pm **Posts:** 2

I have seen the bantam version once about 3 years ago in a small town in Victoria the breeder maybe one that soozorps is referring too not sure but I will not name them. They had at the time about 10 or so true bantams but I am sure they have a lot more now?

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