Silkie chickens - coop/run advice

[Carlazamb]

Hello everybody,
This is my first post here although I have been an reader of this site for a while.

Anyway I have recently purchased 2x 2 month old silkies who will be kept in my back garden. Now my garden isn’t the biggest and I have thought hard about where to place their coop and run (pictures attached- this isn’t my garden)
I think I have found the perfect spot which has a portion of concrete, small single stone area and then some grass at the end of the run.

I would just like some advice about the following questions

1) Would a majority concrete run be okay for them? There will be about 3 feet of grass at the end of the run and around a foot (in width) of shingle stones running along the back of the run.

2) I have read silkies don’t like to roost and based on the house I have bought it seems there is a small area inside which they will most likely sleep on- what should I put down for them to snuggle in?
Also what is they best thing to pad out the house and keep it insulated?

3) Will the shingle stones be okay for them or should I replace them with something more ‘silkie friendly’ if such a thing exists such as wood chips/sand?

4) Should I put anything on the concrete (eg wood chips) or will it be okay left as it is?

5) As mentioned they are 2 month old- will be 2 and 1/2 when I collect them. Will it be okay to put them straight outside into their house and run? It’s currently -5 here and I have read some people like to keep them in doors when it’s so cold - any advice about that?

6) And lastly as mentioned it is currently very cold (snowing heavily) and my garden isn’t all that big. In the spring/summer I plan to let them out and free range before I go to work and when I’m at home but in this weather it’s not really suitable- is it okay to leave them in their house/run without free ranging too much when it’s so cold?

Sorry for all the questions but just want to make a perfect environment for my chickens

 

[Kessel23]

It's not that silkies don't like to roost, they can't roost. A silkies feathers are not suitable for any kind of flight so they are not able to fly up to a roost. If you provide a perch for them 1 foot off the ground or less they will hop up onto it. Some silkies prefer not to roost but most will try to roost. Silkies, or any chickens for that matter, do not need to free range, that coop should be able to hold 2 silkies. They might have trouble getting into the coop with no ramp, as I said before, they can not fly. I find it funny that the coop comes with "Fox proof latches" but not fox proof wire. Also, I would recommend not letting 2 silkies free range unless you are out there watching them, silkies will get picked off really fast by all sorts of predators if they are left to free range unsupervised.

 

[Cyprus]

Hello, @Carlazamb and So glad to have you join us!

Also, I would recommend not letting 2 silkies free range unless you are out there watching them, silkies will get picked off really fast by all sorts of predators if they are left to free range unsupervised.

I agree with this. The feathers on the silkies' heads and their innability to fly make it really easy for them to be taken by predators.

I find it funny that the coop comes with "Fox proof latches" but not fox proof wire

On that note, I strongly recommend that you upgrade the wire on that house. You will need a stronger wire to keep predators from chewing through it.

P.S Beautiful chicken house you have there!

 

[Carlazamb]

It's not that silkies don't like to roost, they can't roost. A silkies feathers are not suitable for any kind of flight so they are not able to fly up to a roost. If you provide a perch for them 1 foot off the ground or less they will hop up onto it. Some silkies prefer not to roost but most will try to roost. Silkies, or any chickens for that matter, do not need to free range, that coop should be able to hold 2 silkies. They might have trouble getting into the coop with no ramp, as I said before, they can not fly. I find it funny that the coop comes with "Fox proof latches" but not fox proof wire. Also, I would recommend not letting 2 silkies free range unless you are out there watching them, silkies will get picked off really fast by all sorts of predators if they are left to free range unsupervised.

Hi,
Thank you for the reply.
I didn’t even think about them getting inside the coop as I thought it might be low enough but I will get them a little ramp/block to hop on and off to get in and out.
That’s good news about the free ranging as I hate to think they would want to be out every day when it’s not possible atm.
I may reinforce the wiring, but my garden is blocked off and has fencing round it (it’s a new build house with the standard patch of grass garden) so the only predators would be cats- would these be an issue? Although I would be in the garden when they were out anyway

 

[Carlazamb]

Hello, @Carlazamb and So glad to have you join us!


I agree with this. The feathers on the silkies' heads and their innability to fly make it really easy for them to be taken by predators.


On that note, I strongly recommend that you upgrade the wire on that house. You will need a stronger wire to keep predators from chewing through it. An 18 inch skirt of 1/4"-1/2" hardware cloth is also a must to keep minks and others predators out.

P.S Beautiful chicken house you have there!

Thank you about the chicken House, I wanted to get something suitable and I hope my new chickens like it

 

[GldnValleyHens]

That looks like hardware cloth to me. Isn't it? That looks like such a pretty coop! The run seems plenty big for at least 2 more birds if not more. Silkies are little. Get an A in chicken math!!!

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Hi,
Thank you for the reply.
I didn’t even think about them getting inside the coop as I thought it might be low enough but I will get them a little ramp/block to hop on and off to get in and out.
That’s good news about the free ranging as I hate to think they would want to be out every day when it’s not possible atm.
I may reinforce the wiring, but my garden is blocked off and has fencing round it (it’s a new build house with the standard patch of grass garden) so the only predators would be cats- would these be an issue? Although I would be in the garden when they were out anyway

I think if you have fencing and the coop, your silkies should be safe. Cats cannot dig into a run. At least I've never heard of that. They are the climbing type. They would only be a threat if your birds are free ranging and you are not watching them.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

My silkie roosts on a 2-3 foot high perch. I don't know how he gets up there but he does. I would think a ramp is needed though. They would have to be very agile Silkies otherwise

 

[Carlazamb]

That looks like hardware cloth to me. Isn't it? That looks like such a pretty coop! The run seems plenty big for at least 2 more birds if not more. Silkies are little. Get an A in chicken math!!!

I was tempted to get maybe 3 rather than 2 but thought it would be nice for them to have more space. As you can tell I am a novice when it comes to all of this. I might start with 2 and add to them if all goes well...

 

[Carlazamb]

Thank you for all your replies
Does anyone have advice about what bedding to get?
And also if the concrete for the main run/shingle area would be okay? I am concerned with them getting too cold