Colorado

[Pozees]

So, as some of you may have experienced... 2-3 inches of snow! I have baby chicks I am getting today or tomorrow and I've got the brooder set up, are there any things I need to do for the chicks since it's officially winter? They will be silkies and sizzles!

It won't really be much different, just make sure no drafts. I have chicks in a brooder in the coop, it isn't heated or insulated, they have their heat lamp and the usual amenities and they've done well.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Where are you housing the brooder? Just make sure there are no drafts and everything should be fine. Have fun!

 

[Mtn Margie]

It won't really be much different, just make sure no drafts. I have chicks in a brooder in the coop, it isn't heated or insulated, they have their heat lamp and the usual amenities and they've done well.

Great minds think alike......

 

[BlueJaye]

I hate to ask, but I really never got any help about this when I posted it in the "sick" forum, so I thought I'd ask you guys...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/838233/swollen-scabs-under-beak

 

[saellis]

So, as some of you may have experienced... 2-3 inches of snow! I have baby chicks I am getting today or tomorrow and I've got the brooder set up, are there any things I need to do for the chicks since it's officially winter? They will be silkies and sizzles!

Make sure your brooder is draft free and can maintain 90-95F. If you don't have sturdy, draft-free, leak-free coop ready, get to it now rather than later. Those cute little chicks will outgrow a brooder in a few weeks but won't be fully feathered and ready for coop life in winter temps until they reach 8 weeks at the earliest. You'll probably want them out of the house before 8 weeks so you'll need to have a SAFE heat source for them in the coop for a short time.

 

[Ashdoes]

Also remember Silkie feathers aren't like other chickens, they don't keep them as warm. So they may have to stay near a heat source for longer then others would. My Silkie chicks are nine weeks and still huddle under the broody hen at night.

 

[Pozees]

Also remember Silkie feathers aren't like other chickens, they don't keep them as warm. So they may have to stay near a heat source for longer then others would. My Silkie chicks are nine weeks and still huddle under the broody hen at night.

Great point!

 

[Pozees]

Make sure your brooder is draft free and can maintain 90-95F. If you don't have sturdy, draft-free, leak-free coop ready, get to it now rather than later. Those cute little chicks will outgrow a brooder in a few weeks but won't be fully feathered and ready for coop life in winter temps until they reach 8 weeks at the earliest. You'll probably want them out of the house before 8 weeks so you'll need to have a SAFE heat source for them in the coop for a short time.

On the topic of safe, if you are using extension cords in your coop/run that have any exposure to weather, spend the extra money for one rated for outdoor use. The one I use to plug in outdoor heated waterers is blue, I bought it at Lowe's last year.

 

[Chickenuts]

I read somewhere not long ago that Silkies are really very cold hardy. Here's a link to a different conversation regarding silkies and cold hardiness https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-are-more-cold-hardy-than-we-tend-to-think/10
We had several 20 years ago in warmer climate of NM, and am trying again now, but our little roo died last week (on a fairly warm day). We get so cold and windy up here, I tried to really check it out before diving in.

 

[lovincolorado]

Preliminary results back from my sebrights necropsy at CSU. Heart failure. He is investigating the brain this week, and will finish the report, but no signs of Mareks nor leukosis so I'm suspecting the neuro signs may have been a stroke. That Would account for complete resolution of the symptoms! It Makes an argument to eat them by 2 yrs! What a waste in death