Is it too cold for a silkie?

[aukuma]

I have three chickens in a small coop. One is a silkie the other two are bantam mixes (regular feathered). When is it too cold for a silkie? It is 39f this morning (much lower last night) and she is huddling in the coop by herself. Should I worry? I do have diapers and could bring her in, but I don't want to if I don't have to.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Elite Silkies]

I give all my silkies heat lamps when it gets cold. I just figure if I need heat, so do they. I would put in a heat lamp, esp. if she has no one to huddle up with. They use each others body heat to help them stay warm.

 

[PepsNick]

Hmm, I'd just cover up some ventilation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=421122

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If she is huddling then she is likely cold.

My silkies are with SO many other chicken bodies in the coop that they stay warm. I only turn on light bulbs for my chickens when it is around 20-28 degrees (around here, that is usually only for a couple of weeks each year).

If I had just 3 chickens in a coop, and one was a silkie, I would run a light bulb for them when it fell below freezing. There are many differing opinions on heat in the coop here on BYC, but my silkies are really not as hardy as my other chickens I have noticed. They act cold sooner.

THEN, if the power goes out, having kept them warm with the light, I would bring them in the garage.

If you consistently run heat for chickens, they will still need it when the power fails. They might die, when they might have survived if not acclimated to the heat.

Oh, and when I run light bulbs, I only run 100 watts. For very small coops a 60 watt may be enough- I have used those. Heat lamps are really HOT. Always secure your light two ways, and don't just clamp it. The chickens will bang into the light many times and knock it down.

Light bulbs in coops are dangerous.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I can see where giving them heat the entire winter would cause a need for it constantly, and the power outages could be a problem. However, I run a generator when my power goes down, so I would not have those problems.

I would get the Silkie a few more friends that could help her stay warm.

 

[aukuma]

Thank you all for your replies. I do plan to add another chicken or two, hopefully that will help with the cuddles. It might not be for a week or so. I'll keep an eye on the temperature and her.

 

[LeghornLisa]

Please check out shopthecoop.com they sell flat panel heaters that work great and you don't have to keep checking the temp. I have one in my coop and love it!

 

[jen5680]

I say she for sure needs some snuggle buddies!!!! Poor little thing having to sleep all by her little lonesom.
And yes she will get cold by herself!

 

[Fox&hen]

We have 4 silkies, they always have huddled together at night. They are the first ones up and out of the coop in the AM no matter what the temp is. We were worried about them at first but they seem to not even notice if it is cold or not. This is just what i have noticed here.

 

[gritsar]

Our temps. have dipped down to the 20s a few times so far this winter. It's been very windy for several days.

My two silkies had been snuggling together on the top of a nestbox, even though they hate each other. Then night before last they decided to start roosting - YAH! Finally using the roost put in there especially for them! - with the two speckled sussex who aren't being allowed on the big girls roost for some reason.

Then last night both silkies and both SS decided to sleep on their roost, but above the cornish X pullets. The CXs put off so much heat it radiates off of them.

Who says silkies are dumb?