Geriatric Single Silkie and Winter

[Ernie]

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in quite some time, but I have a question about a single older chicken and cold-ish temps. TLDR at the bottom. Our small city flock began with Ernie (silkie) in 2009 when she was a year old. At its height, we were up to 5 girls and most recently down to 2. Sadly, we lost our second to last one last week, which leaves Ernie as the sole surviving member. We are not planning on getting any more chickens for a while (upcoming move). So, Ernie is now 13 and lives alone. She seems content enough, but no longer likes to climb ramps, so I've adapted one of the larger construction containers from Costco (I think it's 27 gallon capacity?) in the run to act as a home for her. She seems to like it well enough, my concern is that now that she's alone and doesn't have anyone to huddle with, should I consider getting her a heater for inside her new box to keep her cozy at night? I live in Seattle, so we don't have super cold winters (sometimes it gets in the low 20's at night) and is usually low 40's by day, but sometimes we do have cold snaps where the highs are in the 20's. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks!!

TLDR, single 13 year old silkie, heater needed in Seattle?

Here she is in all of her glory...

 

[Ernie]

Gosh, I just realized too that she's the only one left out of everybody in my signature

 

[Ponypoor]

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in quite some time, but I have a question about a single older chicken and cold-ish temps. TLDR at the bottom. Our small city flock began with Ernie (silkie) in 2009 when she was a year old. At its height, we were up to 5 girls and most recently down to 2. Sadly, we lost our second to last one last week, which leaves Ernie as the sole surviving member. We are not planning on getting any more chickens for a while (upcoming move). So, Ernie is now 13 and lives alone. She seems content enough, but no longer likes to climb ramps, so I've adapted one of the larger construction containers from Costco (I think it's 27 gallon capacity?) in the run to act as a home for her. She seems to like it well enough, my concern is that now that she's alone and doesn't have anyone to huddle with, should I consider getting her a heater for inside her new box to keep her cozy at night? I live in Seattle, so we don't have super cold winters (sometimes it gets in the low 20's at night) and is usually low 40's by day, but sometimes we do have cold snaps where the highs are in the 20's. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks!!

TLDR, single 13 year old silkie, heater needed in Seattle?

Here she is in all of her glory...
View attachment 2900617

She is awesome and doesn't look 13!

I have a Cozy Coop flat panel heater I use with my Silkies and chicks - they snuggle up to it and sleep soundly.

Silkies feathers are not as dense or insulating as regular feathers so even though it's not really cold there it's likely damp. A little warmth I'm ones old age is an awesome thing

 

[Alaskan]

I would make sure that she has enough bedding to snuggle down into at night.

If you have a random cold snap, where it is staying below 20F, I would bring her into the garage/laundry room.

But, I would not provide heat, unless she starts slowing down and looking super gimpy during the day.

My worry is with her being elderly, she might not properly move towards or away from the heat source as needed.

And a YOUNG chicken at those temps, even as a single chicken, would not need heat.

However... her being an only chicken as well as a single chicken, makes her a special case.

 

[Ernie]

Thank you both for the insight! She really is a piece of work and we just love her. The Cozy Coop is one I was looking at. I hear you about needing warmth when you get older Would a thermostat set to 45 or so degrees alleviate any worry of her not moving away from it?

 

[MadamContrary]

Personally I would give her a heat source and take a little extra time to observe her around it. I'd imagine at that age she'd like the heat just for joint pain relief! Heat plates work so well and a lot of models can be set to a lower temperature, so it's just warm not too hot, or they cycle on and off. Feel bedding won't hurt either

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you both for the insight! She really is a piece of work and we just love her. The Cozy Coop is one I was looking at. I hear you about needing warmth when you get older Would a thermostat set to 45 or so degrees alleviate any worry of her not moving away from it?

Is there one there one that comes with an integrated thermostat?

I have heard that at times they can get overly hot... but I am not sure which models/brands are most likely to malfunction.

When I had a hen that needed special care I bought a hot pad rated for pets (so, way heavier duty), that would stay always on. It had a high, medium and low setting. I taped it to the wall where she was sleeping.

It worked great.

I would have less worries about the heating pad causing issues. If you duct tape all plug connections i think the fire risk is close to nil.

 

[Ernie]

You’ve all given me good info to go on, I appreciate it! I’m going to see if I can find a heat source that has a built in thermostat, or a thermostat I can plug it into and make sure to keep her well stocked with bedding. I’ll post back with what I come up with.

 

[Ernie]

Quick update. I ended up installing a heating pad for pets today. It’s in her box under the bedding and radiates a nice gentle heat. I’ve got it on a timer so it comes on about an hour before she beds down and stays on until a little after she usually wakes up. I hope she sleeps well tonight.

 

[Alaskan]

How nice,can she also move off it if she wants?

I would bet it feels great on arthritic toes.