A vaulted skull is a hole or unclosed portion of bone in the top portion of the Silkie’s skull. This genetic trait was introduced into silkies via crosses with the Polish breed of chickens. The Polish were bred into Silkies to improve crest size. Often chickens are bred to another breed to get new colors, traits and types.

Silkies originated in the Far East, (Both China and Japan claim to have developed them.) where they are still kept as pets (and eaten and considered a delicacy) today.