Ideas for silkies who don’t roost

[Kelliejanine]

I have 3 silkies and they don’t roost with my other chickens. I know they prefer to lay on top of each other at night but I’m wondering if anyone has built anything specific for them to sleep in or on? They always choose to lay in the same place right under the roost where poop is. I also feel bad that they may be cold ( I know that’s probably not true but I still worry). I was thinking if I made some sort of open box on the floor with bedding would they even use it? Thanks for any tips or advice

 

[JaeG]

How poofy are their top knots? Sometimes I have to trim my Houdan’s top knot so that she can see, otherwise she roosts in the coop doorway, or if she does make it onto the roost she can’t get down again!

Are your other chickens bigger than your silkies? They may not be letting your silkies roost (silkies do have a tendency to be at the bottom of the pecking order when in with light or heavy breeds). But silkies can’t use their wings to fly upwards as well as other breeds so they may need something lower too. It’s worth a try to make them their own roost but you will have to go out each night and put them on it until they figure out that’s where they are supposed to go at night.

 

[Kelliejanine]

How poofy are their top knots? Sometimes I have to trim my Houdan’s top knot so that she can see, otherwise she roosts in the coop doorway, or if she does make it onto the roost she can’t get down again!

Are your other chickens bigger than your silkies? They may not be letting your silkies roost (silkies do have a tendency to be at the bottom of the pecking order when in with light or heavy breeds). But silkies can’t use their wings to fly upwards as well as other breeds so they may need something lower too. It’s worth a try to make them their own roost but you will have to go out each night and put them on it until they figure out that’s where they are supposed to go at night.

All my current chickens are just over 4 months but the other breeds are much larger. The hair on top hasn’t grown in the way of their eyes yet. I did make a roost just for the silkies but they always jump off. The weird part is I have a Silkie cockerel and 2 Silkie pullets. The cockerel does roost sometimes with the bigger breeds but the 2 Silkie pullets seem to be crying when he does. Maybe they are being bullied since it’s just the 2 pullets who won’t ever roost even on the low roosts we have.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey Kellie I have a separate coop for silky not large but they do not go out but for a chicken tractor I have we have 3 outside cats that will eat silky

 

[Kelliejanine]

Hey Kellie I have a separate coop for silky not large but they do not go out but for a chicken tractor I have we have 3 outside cats that will eat silky

Do your silkies roost in their coop?

 

[JaeG]

If you go out once it's nice and dark the pullets shouldn't jump off when you place them on the roost, and hopefully your other hens will get the message they are allowed to be there. Sounds like your little cockerel (being a boy) has established himself as an important member of the flock and hopefully once he matures he won't let anyone be be bullied. Silkies are just too sweet for their own good sometimes.

 

[Kelliejanine]

If you go out once it's nice and dark the pullets shouldn't jump off when you place them on the roost, and hopefully your other hens will get the message they are allowed to be there. Sounds like your little cockerel (being a boy) has established himself as an important member of the flock and hopefully once he matures he won't let anyone be be bullied. Silkies are just too sweet for their own good sometimes.

Thanks I’ll try that tonight. Usually I would put them up their once the sun was setting but that’s probably too early.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Do your silkies roost in their coop?

Yes they do I worked at it as they are my broody I set them on the table all my birds have tables made from pallets theirs is just 26 inches tall but was able to set them up two at a time

 

[FishMtFarm]

If you build a box that is covered under the roosts, they will use it and it will keep above roosters from pooping on them. I have lots of silkies and I only have one that roosts, and it’s the dominant rooster. Don’t force them to roost, they just don’t do it. Piling on the floor also helps keep them warm.

 

[pennyJo1960]

The silky table allows them to snuggle also they enjoy it and I scrape it daily