Silkie thread!

[CGinJCMO]

Quote: Thanks Flower,
Yes, son is still sad about her death and blames his brother for not finding her (long history that I don't want to get into here). He didn't want to bury her (in our cat cemetery or start a new chicken cemetery), yet he didn't want to just throw her in the trash either. So I'm trying to cremate her (and not let either boy see that it isn't really going well).

Is it just her young age that made it difficult to handle the cooler nights while damp? If she had been a spring chicken, (8-9 months old) would she have succumbed to the cold & wet or could she have handled it then? Or even with a full grown silkie, would I have had to bring her into the house because she got wet?
I really don't want to have to do that often but with the weather we tend to get, I can expect rain or snow a lot. Any silkie we get would be spending a lot of time indoors and we are not equipped for that.

If they tend to be that "fragile" then I want to know so I can convince DS1 that silkies aren't the breed for us.
CG

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Thanks to everyone who commented on my babies. I am hoping that they are girls. The gal who got them for me said she did her best to pick out female traits as she brought home 4 for herself. She raises silkies as well. The partridge ones I hoped to get ended up being male. I like my Three Shades of Gray!

Question: SInce they are still young ( 6-8 weeks) and it is starting to cool down at night, should I provide a heat lamp or bring them in at night? Otherwise I would need 9 more for a nice warm pile.

I am hooked now. Just told hubby I want my partridge color and a few other colors. I love reds and oranges.

 

[aoxa]

I really am convinced they are all going to freeze to death because the pile isn't big enough ....

LOL Good one! My fiance asked why we had this extra silkie rooster (frizzled silkie) and I wish I had of thought of that one at the time

 

[aoxa]

Thanks Flower, 
Yes, son is still sad about her death and blames his brother for not finding her (long history that I don't want to get into here).  He didn't want to bury her (in our cat cemetery or start a new chicken cemetery), yet he didn't want to just throw her in the trash either.  So I'm trying to cremate her (and not let either boy see that it isn't really going well).

Is it just her young age that made it difficult to handle the cooler nights while damp?  If she had been a spring chicken, (8-9 months old) would she have succumbed to the cold & wet or could she have handled it then?   Or even with a full grown silkie, would I have had to bring her into the house because she got wet? 
I really don't want to have to do that often but with the weather we tend to get, I can expect rain or snow a lot.  Any silkie we get would be spending a lot of time indoors and we are not equipped for that.

If they tend to be that "fragile" then I want to know so I can convince DS1 that silkies aren't the breed for us. 
CG

There must have been something more than wet and cold that she died from. Especially this time of year. If it was sub zero temperatures while she was soaking wet, maybe, just maybe... It was raining here all day. Tonight it is hitting 30 degrees. I went down to the barn after dark and one black pullet was still a bit damp, but the silkie pile keeps everyone toasty warm.. Including 4 - 8 week old chicks that get in on the cuddling. Our temps are crazy cold in the winter, and I don't heat at all, or even insulate. Silkies are very hardy if they are dry. They can get wet. Just make sure it does't go down too low when they are wet. Wet during the day is fine, wet at night - not so much.

They are the same as any other breed of chicken. Any wetness on a polish will be bad as well, even a barred rock will not do well with wet AND cold.

 

[City farm]

Kent.. If you don't already have a name?
I am just catching up on ths tread..
We have a Katherine, However we are thinking she is
going to be kent??

 

[City farm]

Tell me about it. lol


Our two white hens keep thinking they're hatching eggs again...and they have no eggs! lol We collect them every day. But they still insist on sitting in the corner of their coop. And they barely come out for food. Gotta love the broody silkies.

Well, they look happy together.. Little stinkers..
Aren't they!!!

 

[City farm]

Just wanted to show off my new catdance babies my broody cochin hatched got 8.  Looks like 1 lavender, 4 lav splits (partridge markings?) and 3 porcelian, so excited about these!

WOW! Beautiful chicks !!!
Well done

 

[Sanna]

She is 1 I think. Ya know, you just got me thinking. I put her in with chicks before!!! I completely forgot. This was this spring when I got her and I got my new LF chicks, all in march. she was not happy at first, but then she was ok. I think. Ok, now I'm confusing myself. this was too long ago.

I'll have to keep the light on for the chicks this winter for sure huh? all day? how much is it going to drive my electric bill up, any idea? Ok, so how many silkies does one need for an efficient silkie pile? ROFL! hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm hehehehe

Personally, I would give it a shot and see how they get along. If it's not going to work, it's not going to work.
I turned my heat lamp off during the day if it wasn't freezing cold to save on electricity. I don't know how much a lamp will drive your electric bill up. Can't imagine it would be too much? Anyone else have an idea?
And for a silkie pile...the more, the better!!!

There's no such thing as too many silkies. lol

Well, they look happy together.. Little stinkers..
Aren't they!!!

They're on a mission!

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Took everyones advice and added 2 black pullets to my pile of 10 already. And 5 two week olds to add later. Soon as I get them home I will post pics of all. They are all going to be so warm this winter

 

[littlecritters]

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

I don't in there.  I was advised not to put a heat lamp in bc if electricity is lost, you'll lose the chickens.  I don't know what to do  Do you think it would be too much to put her in with the other 3?  is she going to kill them?

You can try this...tonight, after the birds have been settled in and sleeping for awhile, take a flashlight and gently remove the hen from her spot. Talk quietly before you pick her up and then add her to the pile of younger silkies. Watch them in the morning to see how they get along. This trick works well for putting together birds of similar ages. Hope it works for you.