Feed inside the coop or outside?

[DreamsInPink]

LOL No worries... I know it's sometimes hard to communicate in these forums.. and I'm always afraid of stepping on someone's toes.

Talking to you makes me feel a lot better. Plus, I think my bf is a bit relieved.. he said he doesn't have to run electricity to the coop if they don't need heat. Although, I'd like a little power, so I can see in the storage area and possibly for a winter water de icer.. but that's another debate altogether. haha

And since you brought it up... silkies. I have 5. Though I don't know how many I'll end up with if some of those decide to be cockerels. How do your silkies do with your regular size chickens? It seems I have read something a long the lines that silkies need their own special roosts? Is that true?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I tend to recommend not keeping them together because some silkies can be odd and draw bad attention to themselves. I have kept them with a few gentle breeds like australorps, Orpingtons, and polish. You just have to be careful. I have roosts that start about a foot off the floor than step up to the next. They could always access the nestboxes by hopping from the roost, to the roost in front of the boxes. So no special roosts but they need them to be close together so they can hop them.

 

[DreamsInPink]

Hmmm... that could pose a problem. I did not know you shouldn't keep them together. Although, I do have more docile breeds picked out, I'm sure there are ones with more hostile behavior... that might pick at the Silkies. That makes me sad. I have no idea what I'll do with them. :/

What do you mean they draw bad attention to themselves? lol

With having a few of them, would they just tend to hang out by themselves and stay out of the other chicken's way?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It might help that they are older and will hopefully be dominant. Silkies range from spunky to some that are a bit disabled mentally. Most are fine. They also go broody often and that behavior sometimes makes others peck at them, whether they are silkies or other breeds.

Crests will often draw non crested breeds to peck at them. I would see how it goes, it could all work out fine and be a great learning experience. I kept them together, now I prefer my bantam separate, they are a bit more tender, and make more noises, but don't ever hurt each other.

When you add new batches of birds they tend to stay in their original groups, it's similar to high school. The worse case scenario is another coop. Otherwise it all could be fine.

What other breeds are you getting?

 

[DreamsInPink]

Ok, well, I guess I might have some decisions to make. :/ Oh dear Lord.. don't let my bf hear you say another coop. hahaha He's not even finished with the first one. Yikes!!!

Right now the Silkies are in with 2 Barred Rocks and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes... but all just under 2 weeks old. I have 5 Isa Browns in the big brooder.. they are 4 weeks.

And I have several more ordered from an online hatchery. Golden Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Buff Brahma, Buff Orpington, Easter Egger, Ancona and New Hampshire Red.

That's it.

 

[junebuggena]

Ok, well, I guess I might have some decisions to make.

Oh dear Lord.. don't let my bf hear you say another coop. hahaha He's not even finished with the first one. Yikes!!!

Right now the Silkies are in with 2 Barred Rocks and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes... but all just under 2 weeks old. I have 5 Isa Browns in the big brooder.. they are 4 weeks.

And I have several more ordered from an online hatchery. Golden Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Buff Brahma, Buff Orpington, Easter Egger, Ancona and New Hampshire Red.

That's it.

Whether or not your breed choices work out, largely depends on each individual's temperament. Flock dynamics are complicated, and there is no way to predict whether your bird combination will work or not. Younger birds tend to be more accepting of new flock members.
As for heating a coop in an extreme cold climate, the bigger danger is moisture. You need lots of ventilation to move damp air out of the coop, otherwise it will condense and freeze on the combs and toes, causing frostbite. It's a very common thought that the combined body heat will help keep them warm, but it's false. Those feathers trap air, and don't allow a lot of heat to escape. And adequate ventilation will negate any excess warmth generated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ok, well, I guess I might have some decisions to make. :/ Oh dear Lord.. don't let my bf hear you say another coop. hahaha He's not even finished with the first one. Yikes!!!

Right now the Silkies are in with 2 Barred Rocks and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes... but all just under 2 weeks old. I have 5 Isa Browns in the big brooder.. they are 4 weeks.

And I have several more ordered from an online hatchery. Golden Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Buff Brahma, Buff Orpington, Easter Egger, Ancona and New Hampshire Red.

That's it.

I guess the bug got, chickens are addicting. I have about 50 and am getting another 25 and trying some hatching eggs. I usually stick around 50 chickens but oops. That's a nice variety. You will have to see as your silkies get older how they fit in your flock, it will be after sexual maturity that you will see how the others treat them. I have had silkie roosters with a large breed flock, they are usually good roosters if you get one. You are going to have a fun summer.

 

[DreamsInPink]

Yeah, I am realizing that. haha! There were just a lot of different breeds I wanted to try... I hope it all works out. I'd love to think the Silkies will live harmoniously with the others, but I do realize it will depend on each individual's personality.

I am very excited to get the coop done and start moving chickens into it.. I can't wait to see their reactions when they get out into their run and free range area, which is our old garden.. there will be lots of goodies out there for them!! I need to start taking some pictures.

Thank you @junebuggena for chiming in as well. We are going to have vents up in the eaves of the a frame roof, and my bf wants to wire up small fans pulling air out of them. The vents aren't going to be HUGE, but looking at other coop designs, I believe they will be sufficient. We are also going to have windows on each wall, but I doubt they'll be left open during winter. I keep reading about adequate ventilation, but keeping it draft free. Where does the different between the two lie??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

There shouldn't be drafts on the roosts, or where they spend the day in winter. High up vents will exchange air without making a draft. You will feel it if there's a draft. Sometimes I open up the south facing vents and leave the northwest closed. My big shed has open doors facing south and east. The north and west are where we block stuff from in winter.

 

[DreamsInPink]

So my vents in the eaves open all the time should be fine... and as long as the windows are not open during cold weather? I planned on them being more for nice weather anyway.... plus the human door will probably be open a lot of the time during mild weather.