Should i ger silkies?? - Need some advice

[The Coop Crew]

@Debbie292d is the queen of silkies so I’m sure she can help!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Forgot to add to my post: @Debbie292d keeps and breeds silkies (pretty darn good ones too) in Wisconsin. She can be of more help answering your silkie questions

Jinx! Haha.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hey! I'm thinking about getting 4-5 silkies next spring but I'm not sure how they would handle the winters. I live it idaho so winter can be a bit harsh. I know silkies are a delicate breed so I'm curious as to how they do in winter, I haven't been able to find much online about the topic. Do I keep them in a warm coop 24/7 or do I let them out during the day?? I really do want silkies but just don't want to get them if I can't properly care for them

They aren't delicate. They are just not able to maintain their heat themselves as well as other chickens due to their lack of regular feathers.

They are also more prone to vitamin deficiencies, wry neck, and diseases like Marek's. Haven't had anything here.

We get sub-zero temps here in the winter. We heat our coop to 40F for them, but also so the 5-gallon nipple bucket doesn't freeze as I don't want to haul water!

But if it's 20F or above and there's little or no wind, the coop door opens, and about half of the chickens come out. The rest are wussies.

See the one in the doorway? Wussie!



And again, check out the wussies at the coop door.


I have always added Rooster Booster granules to their layer or all-flock crumbles. If one seems down, they all get Poultry Cell water for a couple of days. I ferment in quart jars every other day grain (wheat, oats, tblsp millet, tblsp flax, 50/50 with Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve) so they get probiotics/prebiotics (gut and digestive system help).

I may do a little more than most, but I want to make sure they stay healthy and don't get even a sniffle.

 

[LittleDuckies]

They aren't delicate. They are just not able to maintain their heat themselves as well as other chickens due to their lack of regular feathers.

They are also more prone to vitamin deficiencies, wry neck, and diseases like Marek's. Haven't had anything here.

We get sub-zero temps here in the winter. We heat our coop to 40F for them, but also so the 5-gallon nipple bucket doesn't freeze as I don't want to haul water!

But if it's 20F or above and there's little or no wind, the coop door opens, and about half of the chickens come out. The rest are wussies.

See the one in the doorway? Wussie!
View attachment 3892810


And again, check out the wussies at the coop door.
View attachment 3892819

I have always added Rooster Booster granules to their layer or all-flock crumbles. If one seems down, they all get Poultry Cell water for a couple of days. I ferment in quart jars every other day grain (wheat, oats, tblsp millet, tblsp flax, 50/50 with Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve) so they get probiotics/prebiotics (gut and digestive system help).

I may do a little more than most, but I want to make sure they stay healthy and don't get even a sniffle.

Thank you! I have been told by so many people that they are a delicate breed. That's helpful to know. If I end up getting some silkies I'd warm their coop and give them an option to come out? Do yoy have any suggestions for could size/shape?? Thank you again!