SILKIE COOPS??

[KV Silkies]

hi, we are building a coop for my silkies, my husband is wanting to do the off the ground coop with a "front porch" for them and a ramp going down. they will be able to go under the coop as well then. however I am concerned that with silkies they will fall off the "porch"..... any thoughts?? should we just do an on the ground coop?

 

[Duckopolis]

The coop idea that you have is fine. Chickens have pretty good balance. If they do fall, they should be fine. It looks something like this right? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DE3YTSO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[shannondee12]

I only have 2 silkies. One is actually a silkie mix roo and the other is pure silkie. Their coop is an XXL dog crate inside the regular coop with it's own door to their own little run outside. I have a small ramp from the door to the run. The coop isn't up high, it's just the concrete foundation so the door is only about 8 inches off the ground. They go down the ramp great but because of the huge puffy crest on my girl, she can't see to go up the ramp. She tries to hold her head sideways and still has a difficult time with it. she has even toppled off the side of the ramp on a few occasions. Luckily she was only a couple inches up. I haven't decided yet if I want to trim her crest or re-do the ramp to accommodate her hairdo. lol. It is something to consider for your coop idea. I am not saying all will do that, it could be that my girl is a bit goofy to start with.

 

[Duckopolis]

I haven't had problems with chickens falling off of ramps.

Good luck!

 

[KV Silkies]

I only have 2 silkies. One is actually a silkie mix roo and the other is pure silkie. Their coop is an XXL dog crate inside the regular coop with it's own door to their own little run outside. I have a small ramp from the door to the run. The coop isn't up high, it's just the concrete foundation so the door is only about 8 inches off the ground. They go down the ramp great but because of the huge puffy crest on my girl, she can't see to go up the ramp. She tries to hold her head sideways and still has a difficult time with it. she has even toppled off the side of the ramp on a few occasions. Luckily she was only a couple inches up. I haven't decided yet if I want to trim her crest or re-do the ramp to accommodate her hairdo. lol. It is something to consider for your coop idea. I am not saying all will do that, it could be that my girl is a bit goofy to start with.

hmmm, this is what worries me as all mine look like they are going to be pretty bushy, they are only 4 weeks right now, but plenty of bushy heads growing and their parent flocks are all very fluffy headed... didn't think about going back up either.... I just hate to invest the time/money and have it not be ideal as silkies will be the only chickens I have in there...

 

[KV Silkies]

I haven't had problems with chickens falling off of ramps.

Good luck!

have been eyeing up this coop the "egg plant"

 

[Phoenixxx]

Until a recent attack, I had a silkie. Because they're the only chicken that truelly cannot fly, she couldn't get on the roosts with the others. I have a tub in the coop that I store my DE in and she somehow managed to climb on top of that to sleep at night (it's about ten inches high.) So that's something to consider in your building plans, because chickens don't like sleeping on the ground. Maybe a towel bar screwed to the floor at one corner of the coop? But make the roosting corner and the nest area in the least-drafty places, especially since silkies will be near the floor. I like the ramp ideas; I think if they were wide enough, like double the width of the birds or even wider, I can't see them having a problem with falling off. At least that'll give them a means to get away from the chilly ground safely.

 

[KV Silkies]

Until a recent attack, I had a silkie. Because they're the only chicken that truelly cannot fly, she couldn't get on the roosts with the others. I have a tub in the coop that I store my DE in and she somehow managed to climb on top of that to sleep at night (it's about ten inches high.) So that's something to consider in your building plans, because chickens don't like sleeping on the ground. Maybe a towel bar screwed to the floor at one corner of the coop? But make the roosting corner and the nest area in the least-drafty places, especially since silkies will be near the floor. I like the ramp ideas; I think if they were wide enough, like double the width of the birds or even wider, I can't see them having a problem with falling off. At least that'll give them a means to get away from the chilly ground safely.

thank you for the info! I am sorry about your silkie. had heard they don't fly or really don't roost, but have heard of people who have had them roost, guess is a bird by bird situation. right now mine all sleep in a pile, are 16 of them that are 4 weeks old. I like the idea of a double wide ramp..... and after reading other posts now more worried about them not getting back into the coop vs falling off anything...

 

[Phoenixxx]

thank you for the info!  I am sorry about your silkie.    had heard they don't fly or really don't roost, but have heard of people who have had them roost, guess is a bird by bird situation.    right now mine all sleep in a pile, are 16 of them that are 4 weeks old.  I like the idea of a double wide ramp.....  and after reading other posts now more worried about them not getting back into the coop vs falling off anything...

Thanks She was adorable, and the only one that enjoyed long treks through the snow. That being said, as long as they know where home is and the door is open, they - or at least mine - find their way back at sunset

 

[KV Silkies]

ok, now on size.... would 7 x 7 interior space be ok? if it's to be 2 square feet per bird this would be enough for 24 birds, which is more than I have (but knowing myself I will end up with more....) or do I plan for the 10 x 10 ??? am on a budget too.... decisions decisions.... will be a run on this coop as well...