Do they need heat at this age (5 weeks)

[Debbie292d]

Pretty! I've never owned silkies before, but it would seem like maybe they wouldn't do as good as other breeds in the cold cause of how their feathers are?

They lack feather barbicels. Other chickens have those that allow their feathers to lock and keep them warm so they can be affected by cold and wet more so than chickens who have those. We do heat our coop to 40F but the adults are outside in the winter most of the time on paths we shovel for them. I just don't let them out when it's windy or below 20F.

 

[NatJ]

yea after week 4 I checked on them and they still slept under the plate. Week 5 I unplugged it and taught them to sleep on the roost and they’ve been doing so for the past few days. I will check for huddling in a corner to see if I need to add the plate back! Thanks

If they are sleeping on the roost all night, they are probably fine with no heat plate.

Checking once during the dark/cold part of the night might be enough to conclusively settle the matter.

 

[kengboss21]

Just went outside to check, it’s currently 38°

They seem to love it glad I can ditch the brooder plate now

 

[NatJ]

Just went outside to check, it’s currently 38°

They seem to love it glad I can ditch the brooder plate now

That's good

 

[hnorth]

These are just 5 weeks. I'll wait another couple of weeks to try it as they aren't fully feathered yet. I initially had February/March in mind but I will try it way sooner!

I like the chick waterer that you set up in the brooder. Very tidy brooder.

 

[Debbie292d]

I like the chick waterer that you set up in the brooder. Very tidy brooder.

Thank you. Hubby made it for me. The waterer is an old Tupperware container. We have a 5-gallon one in the coop.