Silkie thread!

[PaulaMc]

Hi all

Some really cute pictures of Silkies on here.

Can I ask two questions please as someone who adopted 3 a few months ago as they needed homes?

Do they molt the same as other chickens? One of my miniature's appears to have what looks like stubby quills on her head and a few feathers missing from her wings? The other miniature has a few wing feathers missing but is still farly fluffy on top. The standard silky seems fine. My silkies live with three ex batts and apart from the odd peck when food is around seem to get on well.

Secondly, do I need to do anything special in winter? It rarely dips below -5 at night and the coop has several inches of cardboard and bedding on the floor and in the boxes. All my hens tend to snuggle in the nest boxes although the silkies will roost from time to time. I ensure there's lots of insulation under the roosts. They happily run around in the garden all day even when it's raining.

Thanks for your help.

Hi all

Being cheeky and reposting my questions as you all seem so knowledgeable.

Please can you help?

Many thanks from a UK newbie. Only had my babies 3 months.

Paula x

 

[FishMtFarm]

Yes they do molt like other chicken breeds. As far as winter, I have a heat lamp I turn on when it gets below zero but I have honestly never seen my shiver and we sometimes get up to -40.

 

[stephcraig78]

Hello PaulaMc! I'm not exactly the best to answer your questions but I can tell you that it sounds like your set up will do fine for winter. We have several chickens, including a Silkie hen and frizzle hen. Both are smaller than the others but they seem to always be snuggled together in the hen house. We get well below zero quite often here and so far no issues. We did put one heat lamp in a corner pointing down at them but none of them really sit near it. From what I've learned from others on here they do just fine in much much colder places. Our Silkie is a little under a year old and I haven't noticed a molt yet. She has lost a few feathers here and there but nothing excessive. Of course she may not be old enough yet. So I'm not real sure about that one!! Sorry Hope this helps a little

I'm sure others will help with more info. They are very friendly and helpful just takes a minute sometimes. Good luck with you babies!!

 

[PaulaMc]

Yes they do molt like other chicken breeds. As far as winter, I have a heat lamp I turn on when it gets below zero but I have honestly never seen my shiver and we sometimes get up to -40.

Oh thanks so much FishMtFarm.

They seem to loose lots of dander but as always seem to be broody-sitting on everyone's eggs- wasn't sure whether picking off chest feathers or moulting.

We do not get below -5 Celsius where I am in northern England and they have 3 other fat chickens to cuddle up to - which they do- and they have deep bedding.

Feel better now

Many thanks and happy new year

 

[PaulaMc]

Hello PaulaMc! I'm not exactly the best to answer your questions but I can tell you that it sounds like your set up will do fine for winter. We have several chickens, including a Silkie hen and frizzle hen. Both are smaller than the others but they seem to always be snuggled together in the hen house. We get well below zero quite often here and so far no issues. We did put one heat lamp in a corner pointing down at them but none of them really sit near it. From what I've learned from others on here they do just fine in much much colder places. Our Silkie is a little under a year old and I haven't noticed a molt yet. She has lost a few feathers here and there but nothing excessive. Of course she may not be old enough yet. So I'm not real sure about that one!! Sorry Hope this helps a little

I'm sure others will help with more info. They are very friendly and helpful just takes a minute sometimes. Good luck with you babies!!

Thanks so much Steph

Your babies are gorgeous.

I think that I am probably lucky as with the difference in Fahrenheit and Celsius we do not get so cold weather as in the US. Tonight is a low of 42f. 6 c. I really think I am paranoid chicken owner ha ha. Only begun in May with ex batts and adopted silkies 2-3 months ago.

I love this site as there are so many lovely, helpful people.

Thanks again lovely

 

[PaulaMc]

All my baby girls x

 

[stephcraig78]

Your very welcome and I'm totally paranoid too. Yeah I thought you might be talking in Celsius temps. We got our birds at the end of April this past year so I'm new to this myself. My husband had chickens when he was younger growing up so he knows a lot more than I do. I got our Silkie in may along with frizzle and a couple large fowl Cochins. We have absolutely fallen in love with the Silkie. She has the best personality and is so sweet and loving. She is always sitting on the best with EVERYONES eggs under her including our turkey's egg!! She doesn't care, just wants all the eggs she can get. You will find they are such a great breed and you can't help loving them! If you have any other questions or just wanna share pics and stories then go wild! This is the place for all the chicken and other fowl lovers to share their

!!

 

[stephcraig78]

Aww gorgeous birds! Is that a couple buff Orpingtons back there?

 

[PaulaMc]

Your very welcome and I'm totally paranoid too. Yeah I thought you might be talking in Celsius temps. We got our birds at the end of April this past year so I'm new to this myself. My husband had chickens when he was younger growing up so he knows a lot more than I do. I got our Silkie in may along with frizzle and a couple large fowl Cochins. We have absolutely fallen in love with the Silkie. She has the best personality and is so sweet and loving. She is always sitting on the best with EVERYONES eggs under her including our turkey's egg!! She doesn't care, just wants all the eggs she can get. You will find they are such a great breed and you can't help loving them! If you have any other questions or just wanna share pics and stories then go wild! This is the place for all the chicken and other fowl lovers to share their

!!

Aaawwww thanks sooo much. I love being able to talk chicken with fellow enthusiasts. I think my non chicken friends are getting bored ha ha.

Silkies are sooo broody aren't they but as you say so cute? I love how they waddle. And how they steal food from the fattie batties ha ha.

Thanks Steph x

 

[Sylvester017]

I hatched ALL of my silkies, except my 1 white one. And the only chicken she's bonded too so far, has been my little black cochin I hatched.

It's interesting how certain chickens bond. I don't know if it's pecking order that establishes their bonds, or astrology, or numerology

but they have their own idea of who their "friends" are! We just turned our house juvenile outdoors just before Xmas and it is so great to have our whole house to ourselves again. I love my new birds to bond with but so glad when they are finally outside with the flock!

Thank you much for help I think it is harder on me then on her lol

It's like having a brand new human baby -- you worry about everything. Then, after a few years, you take it in stride and recognize certain behaviors are just normal.