If you’ve somehow stumbled across our little corner of the internet, welcome!
Route 99 Silkies is a small, NPIP-certified Silkie breeding program located in Northern California. We’re completely obsessed with Silkies—and what started as a love for these ridiculous little fluffballs has grown into a breeding program, a whole lot of hatching eggs, way too many chickens, and a pretty serious interest in genetics.
And yes… there are definitely worse problems to have.
So, why Silkies?
Because they’re impossible not to love.
Silkies are funny, sweet, weird, fluffy, and full of personality. But beyond being adorable backyard chickens, they’re also incredibly interesting from a breeding and genetics standpoint.
That’s the part that really hooked me.
I love figuring out why a bird looks the way it does, what genetics are hiding underneath all that fluff, and how thoughtful breeding can help create healthier, more predictable, and more interesting birds.
That curiosity eventually led us beyond just breeding Silkies and into DNA testing and genetics.
More than just pretty birds
At Route 99 Silkies, our goal is to build a breeding program around healthy birds, good information, and smarter breeding decisions.
We offer Silkie chicks, hatching eggs, and DNA testing services designed to help breeders and backyard flock owners get a little more information about the birds they’re working with.
Our DNA services can help identify things like sex and specific genetic traits, giving breeders another tool when making breeding decisions.
Because sometimes you really do want to know what that adorable little fluffball is going to turn into.
What you’ll find here
This blog is going to be a little bit of everything.
We’ll talk about:
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Hatching and chick raising
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Silkie genetics and breeding
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Breeding projects and flock updates
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DNA testing
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Hatching eggs and incubation
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Things I’ve learned the hard way
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Tips for building and managing a breeding program
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The occasional chicken disaster, because apparently those are unavoidable
I also want this to be a place where I can share the why behind what we do—not just show you pretty birds.
There is a lot of conflicting information floating around in the poultry world, and sometimes figuring out what is actually useful can be… interesting.
So when I learn something, test something, screw something up, or find something that makes breeding a little easier, I’ll share it here.
We’re glad you’re here
Whether you’re building a serious breeding program, starting your very first backyard flock, raising a 4-H project, looking for a few fluffy chickens to add to your yard, or you’re just here because you saw a Silkie and immediately needed one…
You’re welcome here.
We’re constantly growing and learning, and I’m excited to bring you along for the ride.
So take a look around and welcome to Route 99 Silkies.
And fair warning: you may leave with more chickens than you came here with.
Better Birds. Smarter Breeding.
— Route 99 Silkies