How do you prep your chickens for winter?

[mckaylaspandas]

I have silkies and a fair size coop, we are currently using straw till I find something more suitable, I live in ontario canada so it gets painfully cold. What's the best alternatives for silkies as they aren't winter hardy ?

Coop is still on its working way lol

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. This link may be helpful to you - https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

Best wishes
CT

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and . Pleased you joined us! Great link by CTKen. Good luck to you!

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Hi and welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining us!

 

[CuzChickens]

Welcome to Backyard chickens Mkaylaspandas!! I hope you enjoy it and the camaraderie here and everybody that goes nuts over chickens (me being one of them....) Have fun! And ask questions!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

You may want to post on "Canadians, check-in here ," to ask their advice. Silkies are neither heat nor cold hardy. You would need a draft free coop with sufficient ventilation high up above the birds to allow moisture to escape. If birds will be spending extended time in the coop during inclement weather - you will need a larger coop . Overcrowded, bored birds tend to act out by fighting, feather plucking, bullying (away from feed & water) and at severe extremes cannibalism.

You could stack bales of hay around the perimeter of your run, so block the wind, a run cover can offer some protection from the elements and shade in summer. Your birds may very well venture outside for brief periods if some area of the run is shoveled for them. Some silkies will go out in cold, some will not.

 

[QueenMisha]

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

I just make sure they have lots of dry, covered areas and wind breaks. Seems to suit my Silkies just fine.