About "Sizzles"

A sizzle chicken is both silkie (soft, fur-like feathers) and frizzle (feathers that curl up rather than lie flat). They are also called silkie frizzles, frizzle silkies, frilkies, or other portmanteaus. It is not a breed but a combination of feather modifications.

WHY SIZZLES ARE RARE

1. Sizzles are a combination of genetic mutations. Rather than being a single allele, it takes two separate mutations, one recessive and one co-dominant.

2. Frizzles do not breed true. Because the gene is detrimental in a homozygous condition, in an ethical breeding program, you only get 50% frizzle chicks.

3. They are (mostly) ornamental, not practical. Silkies are mediocre layers of small eggs and frequently go broody, making them impractical for egg production.

4. They require special care. Due to size and feathers, sizzles (and silkies and frizzles) need care taken to stay warm, cool, and protected from predators.

5. They take extra time. Chicks have to grow their feathers in before the type can be identified. On top of that, sexing silkies is extra tricky. They develop differently than most breeds and take a long time to mature.

WHY I LOVE THEM ANYWAY

1. They are friendly. They are from breeds renowned for being gentle and sweet. The roosters are gentle and friendly and can get along better than many.

2. They cannot fly. This makes them easier to keep safely contained for a backyard flock.

3. Satisfying coat texture. Petting a sizzle, silkie, or frizzle chicken can be especially calming. This trait has mental health benefits for their owners.

4. They are adorable! Of course they are. Just looking at them makes me smile.

ABOUT SILKIES

Silkies are the name of a breed, not just a feather type. In America, silkies are a bantam breed, but in other parts of the world, they are available in larger and smaller sizes.

Silkie feathers are a recessive gene. First generation silkie crosses have normal feathers. This means it takes at least two generations to get "sizzle" chickens. 

ABOUT FRIZZLES

In Australia, the Frizzle is a breed of chicken. Elsewhere, it refers only to the feather variation. Because frizzle is a single genetic mutation, it can occur in any breed. If one parent is frizzle, the resulting chick could also be frizzle (50/50 chance).

Frizzles are heterozygous and do not "breed true." You can't be sure which chicks are frizzle until they are at least a week or two old.

If you are considering breeding frizzles, read up on the genetics to do so humanely. Two copies of the frizzle gene produce weak birds (known as frazzles) with brittle feathers and heart problems.

Basic rule: Don't breed frizzle to frizzle.

There are NO benefits to breeding frizzle to frizzle aside from laziness. Such a pairing would still result in only 50% frizzle offspring. The only difference is instead of the other 50% being normal, those chicks could instead end up weak and disabled.

SPECIAL CARE CONSIDERATIONS

​Frizzles, sizzles, and silkies are, in most respects, just like any other chickens. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Frizzles, sizzles, and silkies cannot fly. Low roosts should be available, and extra care taken to keep them safe from predators.

2. They are susceptible to chills. Without a normal feather coat, they lack insulation. Being wet is especially dangerous, so make sure they stay dry.

3. They can have trouble seeing. Silkies have puffy crests that can obstruct their vision. This can make them vulnerable and flighty.

4. They "look weird" to other chickens. Hens are the mean girls of the barnyard. If a chicken looks different, it will likely get bullied. "Weird" chickens do better in flocks either of their own kind or with ones used to a mixed flock.

WHERE TO BUY FRIZZLES/SILKIES

Silkie Bantams and Cochin Frizzle Bantams can be ordered from large hatcheries. Hatcheries have "hatchery quality" birds, not show-quality. Some hatcheries have other breeds or crossbreeds ("designer breeds") with frizzle feathers.

Local breeders and small hatcheries often have better quality birds with more variety in color or type for better prices, and the chicks will not have to go through the stress of being shipped. Facebook and other social media sites provide opportunities to connect with local chicken breeders. You can also go to local swaps and auctions.

​Another source of chicks is hatching your own.

The younger the chick, the less certainty and greater chance of loss. Eggs cannot be sexed, and frizzle feathers do not develop until chicks are a couple weeks old. Consider the value of spending more for an older chick/pullet.