Silkie chickens as pets These were Marco Polo's words describing Silkie chickens as he was travelling in Asia in the 13th century:
"I have been told, but did not myself see the animal, that there are found, at this place a species of domestic fowls which have no feathers, their skin being clothed with a black hair, resembling the fur of cats. Such a sight must be extraordinary. They lay eggs like other fowls, and are good to eat."...