A Silkie fowl is basically a furry chicken. The Silkie differs from your average chicken in that its feathers lack the webbing that causes a feather to hold its shape. Silkies cannot fly. This breed of fowl, in addition to Silkie feathers, also has black skin and turquoise earlobes. The theory is that Silkies came from somewhere in the Eastern Asia, perhaps China, but no one really knows. Marco Polo reported having seen a "wool bearing" chicken in his travels. The popular theory is that he saw Silkies. Silkies are gentle little birds and they make wonderful mothers!