Which lays more eggs, the Silkie or the Polish?

The Polish typically lays more: 150–200 eggs a year against the Silkie's 100–120. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.

Which starts laying first, the Silkie or the Polish?

The Polish usually starts sooner, at 20–24 weeks old; the Silkie typically starts at 28–36 weeks. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.

Can you keep Silkies and Polishs together?

Yes. Both need the same feed, coop, and run, and mixed-breed backyard flocks are the norm. Size the housing to the more demanding bird: plan on 4 sq ft of coop floor per bird for this pairing, plus run space.

What color eggs do Silkies and Polishs lay?

The Silkie lays cream eggs and the Polish lays white — keeping both gives you a two-tone basket.

Silkie vs Polish: Which Chicken Breed Should You Get?

The short answer: the Polish lays more (150–200 eggs a year vs 100–120) and starts sooner, at 20–24 weeks.

Figures reviewed against hatchery and breed-registry guidance · Last reviewed July 2026

Side by side

	Silkie	Polish
Eggs per year	≈ 100–120	≈ 150–200
Egg color	cream	white
First egg	28–36 weeks	20–24 weeks
Size class	bantam	standard
Coop floor per bird	2 sq ft	4 sq ft

The two ornamental favorites: Silkies bring fur-like feathers and relentless broodiness; Polish bring the pom-pom crest and a surprisingly respectable white egg.

Silkie in brief

Fur-like feathers, black skin, and the strongest broody instinct in the yard — Silkies are the slowest common breed to start laying, often 7–9 months, and many keepers use them as living incubators instead.

More detail: when do Silkie chickens start laying?

Polish in brief

The pom-pom crest limits their vision, so Polish startle easily and rank low in mixed flocks — but they lay a respectable white egg for an ornamental breed.

More detail: when do Polish chickens start laying?

Which should you pick?

Pick the Silkie as a pet and a natural mother for hatching projects.

Pick the Polish for the showstopper crest and more eggs — but watch flock dynamics, since the crest limits vision, so Polish startle easily and rank low in mixed flocks.

One practical note before you decide: these two breeds don't need the same housing. The Polish is a standard-class bird, so plan around 4 sq ft of coop floor per bird if it joins the flock — the coop size calculator handles mixed size classes.

And honestly, most keepers don't have to choose. Both breeds eat the same feed and share a coop happily, so a couple of each is a common answer — use the coop size calculator to size the setup for your total flock, and the first egg calculator to see when each breed will start laying from your chicks' hatch date.

Frequently asked questions

Which lays more eggs, the Silkie or the Polish?: The Polish typically lays more: 150–200 eggs a year against the Silkie's 100–120. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.
Which starts laying first, the Silkie or the Polish?: The Polish usually starts sooner, at 20–24 weeks old; the Silkie typically starts at 28–36 weeks. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.
Can you keep Silkies and Polishs together?: Yes. Both need the same feed, coop, and run, and mixed-breed backyard flocks are the norm. Size the housing to the more demanding bird: plan on 4 sq ft of coop floor per bird for this pairing, plus run space.
What color eggs do Silkies and Polishs lay?: The Silkie lays cream eggs and the Polish lays white — keeping both gives you a two-tone basket.

More breed matchups

Sources

First-egg age and egg counts are the consensus of multiple hatchery and breed-registry sources (no extension service tabulates per-breed figures), cross-checked and last reviewed July 2026.

The Livestock Conservancy — Chicken breed profiles