A couple of questions in reguards to coop specifically for silkies.

[NightsInWhiteSilkies]

Hi everyone!
Im going to have this type of coop/runner for 3 silkies.
The coop itself is going to be 4ft x 4ft.
Where do I put their food and water? Inside the coop or outside and where exactly?
Also I live in a rainy state and I mean it rains,rains and rains in Washington! lol...Should I put plexiglass around a portion of the lower part of it so its not wet in the runner area?
And lastly is a heat lamp okay in a small coop as this on say a 100 watt bulb at night or what is a good wattage on a heat lamp? They are now 6 weeks old and will be the only ones in this coop/runner Im wondering if they might need a heat lamp if it gets too cold for them on some nights?
As usual its a newbie asking some questions for you folks!

...... but your suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If you want silkies to go up a ramp, make it wide and gently sloped. Keep food inside the coop, or they won't use the coop. Don't help them down the ramp or they won't go back up by themselves. Silkies don't like ramps generally, but they can be trained. You might be looking at the silkies huddled in the run if they don't like their ramp. They also reject roosts sometimes especially as juveniles. They can't see well and don't fly.

I use 100 watt bulbs in small coops a lot. Just hang it at least two ways with something like metal wire (so if the clamp fails it won't fall) not including the clamp. Silkies do appreciate a little warmth and huddle near it. Especially after getting soaked here in the Pacific NW. They will stand in the rain and get soaked. When that cold fog rolls in and they are soaked, they really suffer.

I offer a 100 watt bulb all winter to my chickens when it goes below freezing because of our wet climate. However, if the power fails and it is during one of those strange 10-20 degree cold snaps then I would put them in the garage in a dog carrier overnight as they will be acclimated to heat (the silkies).

I would have a waterer outside and one inside. If you have food inside you must have water or they might choke.

They will appreciate a plexiglass windbreak. They definitely need a windbreak in the run. Many on BYC don't heat their silkies in winter, but in my coops the fog settles on everything and soaks it all even inside the coops.

Just my experience!

 

[Pharm Girl]

Hi from down here in Oregon. This is a pic of my old coop, but the new coop is similar. I staple up plastic stair runner around my coop to stop the splashing. I take it down in summer and store it, then re-use it to keep cost down. The best thing I ever did is bolt hardware cloth over everything and make a skirt so my coop is vermin and predator proof. I can leave the food out and the trap door open, so my girls let themselves out in the morning to eat and drink. I let them out into the bigger area at my leisure. My best advise, is make as big of an overhang on the roof as possible. It really helps!

The inside:

I don't have silkies, but I do have rain! I wouldn't use this waterer with silkies, obviously, they would drown.

 

[NightsInWhiteSilkies]

I was hoping folks would say something and jsut checked and this is awesome!
I was thinking of getting plexiglass and drilling holes in it and temporarily connect it all around the entire coop. Ill have an extended runner and was going to put plexi glass on the top and on one side but leave a little of it open on the extended runner(extra peice Ill be adding to it) only but put plexiglass surrounding the entire coop and runner of this photo I posted. So thankyou for this info which confirms what I was thinking of doing to surround it from the rain getting in plus this way I can put some pine shavings down below and they dont get all soggy and wet.
The ramp I had requested it to be made longer because Ive read they dont like steep ramps so he was going to do that plus I asked him to not make the coop up so high so he was going to make it only 3 feet from the ground.
The water and food I just wasnt sure about if I should put some inside their coop as well as down below too.
So have 2 food and water dishes altogether for them?
The roost, Ive made them a 2 inch one and they use it during the daytime but not at night. They huddle and snuggle with each other on the ground. I pick them up and gently put them on it but they hop off and end up all as one ball of fluff together.
Ive requested the roost not up too high in the coop too.
I think I too will do a heat lamp for them at least thru this winter time if it gets to cold but definatly at first since theyve been indoors and the temp is 70 degrees. After I start working with them to go outside for a few hours Im hoping they will be outside in about a couple more weeks to live in their new coop/run!
And if it gets too cold outside well I have a special room indoors they can be so that would be fine too.
Thankyou very much for your replys!
Im really excited and this is my first coop and I want it to be purrrrfect for them!

 

[NightsInWhiteSilkies]

Also if the coop is 4ft by 4ft and the runner is covered with plexi glas will that be okay as far as moisture/condensation is concerned in the coop?