Silkie thread!

[Fancychooklady]

I would love to have some silkies but there not that cold hardy and in the winter it gets down in the teens and 20s sometimes colder and I was wondering how could I keep them warm in the winter without spending a lot of money on some sort of heater and we also get from 4- to 20 some inches of snow here sometimes so how could I keep them wam enough to survive the nights here

Silkies are good in cold weather, their walnut comb is the best indication of that. Our winter nights get down to -7 degrees Celsius and I have no artificial heat. Adding a wall of hay bales to keep out the draught helps on the coldest of days.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Thanks but I can't pile straw or hay bales in there coop or outside as I could not afford to pay for so many bales of hay or straw as my friend has a barn full of it and hives it to us for free but once it's gone i will have to pay for it as he has a huge barn and the straw is almost as high as the ceiling but I don't want to wast it thanks though as in the winter the only source of ventilation is from the roof cap and sometimes the gaps in the rafters where the roof connects to the walls so I have it packed tight with insolation to help keep the heat in except for the roof cap and in the summer the Windows will be opened thanks though

 

[abbevilleoz]

Nope. Just like to have them and breed th.

Me, too. It would be nice if we were a little closer would could trade eggs

. Here's my two girls:

I've got nine Silkie eggs in the incubator that are due to hatch next week. It's our first attempt at incubating.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

There pretty birds do you have to bathe them regularly to keep there weird feathers getting muddy or something and do they molt

 

[abbevilleoz]

There pretty birds do you have to bathe them regularly to keep there weird feathers getting muddy or something and do they molt

They do molt. I have bathed them and they seem to enjoy it. I keep them on sand and wood shavings to keep them as clean and dry as possible. They free range everyday it's not raining though and still don't get their feet too dirty. I'm not an expert on Silkies, I've only had mine for a few months.

 

[joydix]

i have had mine for 2 years...never bathed...well once when someone pooped on her head...she totally went with the hair dryer thing, sat on my bathroom counter...ZEN chicken...BUT in general she stays clean...seriously..she smell like cookie dough...she smells sweet and clean and YES I kiss her and hug her! my friend has a white silkie and she has a very muddy place and that bird always seems to look very clean...NO clue why!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thanks but I can't pile straw or hay bales in there coop or outside as I could not afford to pay for so many bales of hay or straw as my friend has a barn full of it and hives it to us for free but once it's gone i will have to pay for it as he has a huge barn and the straw is almost as high as the ceiling but I don't want to wast it thanks though as in the winter the only source of ventilation is from the roof cap and sometimes the gaps in the rafters where the roof connects to the walls so I have it packed tight with insolation to help keep the heat in except for the roof cap and in the summer the Windows will be opened thanks though

I only put a row of bales in the run to give them a wind break , once the spring comes ,I use the straw in the garden.

 

[abbevilleoz]

i have had mine for 2 years...never bathed...well once when someone pooped on her head...she totally went with the hair dryer thing, sat on my bathroom counter...ZEN chicken...BUT in general she stays clean...seriously..she smell like cookie dough...she smells sweet and clean and YES I kiss her and hug her! my friend has a white silkie and she has a very muddy place and that bird always seems to look very clean...NO clue why! 

I know, they act just like al other chickens. Dust baths, scratching, preening, etc. we've only bathed ours once and they loved it. Reminded me of myself in a hot tub lol.

My wife loves doing their "hair." Im sure they produce an oil that coats their fluff and this helps propel dirt and grime.

 

[cade hall]

Can someone tell me the difference between paint and splash silkies.

 

[littlemissbatam]

Splashes are more messy looking and have the blue gene where paints are more clean looking