Silkie thread!

[angalynn23]

In the winter? I guess I didn't realize mites are active in the winter. Well....any other suggestions on what to do with Silkies in the winter? Bring them inside?

 

[angalynn23]

I should also add that I do use diatomaceous earth.

 

[Fancychooklady]

In the winter?  I guess I didn't realize mites are active in the winter.  Well....any other suggestions on what to do with Silkies in the winter?  Bring them inside?

Mites are very active in the winter and love to warm up on your birds. Once your birds are fully feathered in , usually around 6 weeks, they are hardy enough to live outside. Be sure that they have shelter from the rain and that their coop is draught free.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I should also add that I do use diatomaceous earth .

I am sure that you have done your homework on DE,but i don't use the product on my birds. The fact that you are required to wear a respirator during application to prevent contracting lung disease such as pneumoconiosis , is enough for it to be on the ' banned substance ' list around here. Anyone that has handled their birds will tell you that when they flap their wings you will get covered in any dust that you use. There is of course much debate about DE and lots of testimonials , just very little science behind it.

 

[Sylvester017]

I should also add that I do use diatomaceous earth.

Done a lot of research on DE and haven't found enough positive but more negative about it - but it's a personal choice as you know your birds best. Our friends tried it for their larger flock and it made no difference on lice, mites, or worms. They had to use real wormer medicines and external poultry sprays for parasite prevention on both the chickens and their housing. We use organic Manna Pro Poultry Protector for preventative maintenance against external parasites. We don't use dusty products like baking soda, Sevin dust, or DE, etc to prevent respiratory irritations in our little flock. But that was our decision. If you think it's ok to use dusts on your chickens after reading the warning labels it is your personal choice.

Some research that helped me make up my mind - if the DE warning label says to wear goggles and a mask and gloves to use it, how do I put goggles, mask, and gloves on my chickens to protect their respiratory systems from the use of DE?:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/05/diatomaceous-earth-de-benefitrisk.html

 

[phoenix-silkie]

In the winter? I guess I didn't realize mites are active in the winter. Well....any other suggestions on what to do with Silkies in the winter? Bring them inside

hey there i live in Canada, very far up too hahha. i have silkies and im just going put a heat lamp in my coop, my coop is insulated so the heat should stay in i'm also do this thing i found on the internet to put plastic around the coop so the snow doesn't get in the coop, ill put up a photo of my idea.
my coop is a lot bigger but you get the idea. i'm putting shavings in my coop.
silkies should love it
DO NOT FORGET THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE VENTILATION IN WINTER, or the humidity in the coop gets on there beak and freezes!

 

[and-roo]

My silkie rooster is really cool. While these three chicks were being raised by a buff Orpington and two silkie hens, he would help watch over them and they really started to like him. Once the broodies stopped taking care of them, he kinda took them in and they usually follow him around. He doesn't pick on them when all the other hens do and I think its just fascinating

 

[Fancychooklady]

My silkie rooster is really cool. While these three chicks were being raised by a buff Orpington and two silkie hens, he would help watch over them and they really started to like him. Once the broodies stopped taking care of them, he kinda took them in and they usually follow him around. He doesn't pick on them when all the other hens do and I think its just fascinating

It's lovely to watch Roos interact with their babies.

 

[Fancychooklady]

hey there i live in Canada, very far up too hahha. i have silkies and im just going put a heat lamp in my coop, my coop is insulated so the heat should stay in i'm also do this thing i found on the internet to put plastic around the coop so the snow doesn't get in the coop, ill put up a photo of my idea. my coop is a lot bigger but you get the idea. i'm putting shavings in my coop. silkies should love it DO NOT FORGET THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE VENTILATION IN WINTER, or the humidity in the coop gets on there beak and freezes!

There are two contributing factors that cause frost bite. Condensation ( to settle ) and draught ( to blow over the comb and wattles ) .

 

[seminolewind]

Quote: I agree. Even when my silkies hatchedmy Polish, the roos always treated thek like their own.