Show Quality Standards

The American Poultry Association (APA) has established breed standards for Silkie chickens in the United States. Overall, show-quality Silkies should be well-proportioned, with a gentle temperament, and exhibit a specific and distinctive appearance outlined below. 

According to the APA Standard of Perfection, show-quality Silkies should have the following characteristics:

1. Size: Small, compact, and rounded appearance. Silkies should be small and delicate, weighing no more than 36 ounces for males and 32 ounces for females.
2. Plumage: Abundant, soft, and fluffy feathers resembling silk or satin. Silkies are known for their soft, fluffy feathers. The feathers should be abundant, and the texture should be silky to the touch. The feathers should be free from hard quills. (Satins and Frizzles are typically shown in their own class.)
3. Posture: Upright and proud stance with a broad and deep body.
4.  Body Shape: The body should be short and broad, with a medium head and sloping back. The wings should be small and tucked in close to the body.
5. Tail Feathers: Short and flowing, held at a 90-degree angle from the body.
6. Skin: Silkies have dark-colored blue to black skin.

1. Crest: Full and round, flowing back from the base of the comb and covering the head.
2. Comb: Walnut-shaped, small to medium, and firmly set on the head. Should be dark mulberry or black in color and not obstruct vision.
3. Beak: Short, stout. Preferably dark in color.
4. Eyes: Large, round, and bright. Color typically dark to black. 
5. Earlobes: Small and oval. Color should be bright turquoise.
6. Neck Feathers: Full and abundant, flowing smoothly into the back.

1. Legs: Short, set wide apart, and covered with soft feathers.
2. Feet: Feathered down to the toes with five toes on each foot, a unique characteristic to Silkies.
3. Toes: The 4th and 5th toes should be completely separated. 

 Silkies come in several colors, including white, black, blue, gray, partridge, buff, and splash! All colors (with the exception of splash, paints, and partridges) should be uniform across the entire body, and there should be no spots, streaks, or other marks.  (Paints are similar in appearance to splashes, but with larger black spots. They're an accepted coloring at many shows, with their own set of standards.)

1. Health: Birds should exhibit vitality, clear eyes, and smooth, clean feathers.
2. Temperament: Silkies are known for their calm and friendly nature. Both Roos and Hens should be docile and easy to handle.

Silkie chickens judged in shows must meet these standards to qualify as show quality. It's important to note that these standards may be subject to change and can vary based on the specific requirements of different poultry organizations. Furthermore, show quality parents are not guaranteed to produce show quality offspring.