need a good coop construction for SQ silkies

[silkie freak 22]

i have some sq silkies and i want to separate them by color. anyone out there havs some suggestions i have had them on a wire cage floor but am expanding and would like a walk in coop. i need them to keep dry and clean all they're lives. any ideas?

 

[Zahboo]

Keeping dry and clean all there lives.... don't sound like chickens to me

If you want them to stay dry, that means the run has to be covered, and probably a large overhang. Also, you'll need sand or something to aid drainage. Could you have a shed/coop with breeder cages on the walls? That way if you aren't worried about pure colored eggs for winter or whatever, they can walk around the coop no problems but can be in wall cages for breeding. IDk just tossing around ideas.

 

[silkie freak 22]

yeah sounds good

but if i keep them under a heat lamp all winter will they lay all winter?

 

[Zahboo]

My birds lay year round anyway. It depends on your breed of chicken and I am no silkie expert by far. Have a light in the coop should help though, even if at the coldest part of winter they stop laying. Sorry, I'm not a lot of help

Have you ever considered just bathing your silkies before shows, that way they can enjoy scratchng and dust bathing?

 

[silkie freak 22]

i do bath them and let them bathe in the dust i just have a wood chip bottom and have some dust in a little litter box for them