The Black-feathered Silkie is a black-boned chicken with black plumage that is suitable for free-range rearing.

The Black-feathered Silkie is a breed group within the Silkie chicken whose plumage is black. Besides having black feathers all over the body, most of them also show black skin, black flesh and black bones, and in some individuals even the comb and internal organs are black. It differs clearly in appearance from the familiar White-feathered Silkie, but both belong to the black-boned chicken category.

China is relatively rich in Black-feathered Silkie resources. Local breed groups are preserved in Jiangxi, Fujian, Sichuan and other places, and breeds from different regions differ in body size and egg-laying performance, with some breeds especially noted for laying green-shelled eggs. Overall, this type of chicken is highly adaptable, tolerant of coarse feed and good at resisting disease, making it suitable for free-range and woodland grazing systems.

In terms of rearing, the brooding period should focus on keeping the chicks warm and well ventilated, keeping the litter dry and reducing stress. In the middle and later stages, a method of free-range rearing plus supplementary feeding can be used, the feed should be nutritionally balanced, and vaccination, coop disinfection and deworming should be carried out according to schedule. Those who choose woodland rearing should also guard against natural predators and pay attention to how weather changes affect the flock.

Black-feathered Silkie meat is tender and is traditionally regarded as a nourishing food, often used in soups and medicinal dishes, and it enjoys high market acceptance. Using woodland, orchard and similar resources for ecological free-range rearing can both lower feed costs and help improve the quality of meat and eggs, making it a direction for many farmers to develop their breeding operations.