Silkie thread!

[KMHunter]

Quote: True, and this is helpful, but heavier duty clear vinyl/polyurethane will let in sun and hold the heat better. Heavy duty shower curtain liners can work well, or you can purchase longer lengths from fabric or upholstery stores.
I have a couple of plastic dog houses that I have lined the bottom and top with that silver rolled insulation. Like the stuff they ship fish in to the fish store. I stuck in with velcro so I could pull it out and and completely disinfect the house. I also am making a flap over the door and putting a light in there on a timer so they will go all the way in. I have found that silkies will go into the coop but stay where it is relatively easy for them to see, ie. the entrance. Silly chickens! So I will provide light for an hour or two just before bed so they go all the way in.
And I have had great luck with the insulation I use. All my coops are lined with it and none have eaten it. I see new ones peck at it but since they can't easily start to eat it, they give up and leave it alone. You can get it at HD or Lowe's, and it's realtively cheap, or you can do what I do and go to your nearest pet store and find out if they get any fish shipped and when. Then have them save it for you and get it for free!
Wanted to add that I am also going to put heavy duty painters plastic around at least 3/4 of the pen to keep the wind and rain out as much as possible. Will probably put it on the front of the pen if it get really cold here, but you never know in the PNW. It's never below freezing for too long.

 

[tiki244]

I made a *greenhouse* last winter off the coop.4 X 16 It was really part of their outdoor pen. I got 3 MIL clear plastic and used heavy duty UV zip ties(the other ones degrade in sunlight). They really weren't too expensive. The chickens loved it and it helped to keep the coop warmer also. However last winter was not a very cold winter. I was disappointed about that. I like the cold weather too and hate hot weather. My silkies have had more trouble dealing with hot weather than cold also. I usually add about a foot of straw in the winter to *insulate* the floor more, but I read that it can harbor mites easily if you have a problem with them.

 

[Sanna]

Wow, replies!!
I live between the boat with my other half and my house with my daughter, best of both worlds!
Once my daughter goes to Uni next year I will probably give up on real life completely and go full time on the river.

Post us pictures of the boat chickens!

Chloe with her new baby!

Love it

 

[littlecritters]

I have a quick question.....I have a beautiful paint silkie that I would love to breed. the problem I am having is she has a crooked beak.We didn't notice it till she was bigger. Is it possible it would be passed on? None of the others we hatched have it. She is just so pretty and fluffy that we think she would make nice little babies. 

We also rehomed a beautiful pullet with crooked beak. I didnt want to take a chance on breeding her.

 

[ChicksNherps]

can you take a picture? I am having a hard time envisioning the door being ventilation Either way, any ventilation should be at the top where they aren't going to get a draft. But LOTS of it I'd love to see a picture though!

Please excuse the drowned silkies

Only 2, and young at that, may not generate enough combined heat to keep them sufficiently warm. Where is the doghouse? How insulated it it? Can it be moved to a warmer location or better insulated? Adding a light for warmth could be helpful. There are outlet devices called thermocubes that act as a thermostat to turn power on when the temperature drops to a certain degree. http://www.thermocube.com/ I wish they made a hot weather one that is in between the two hot weather ones they do make. What are your current temperatures (lows and highs)? And how did the birds SEEM to react to being covered in frost? Were they shivery and obviously cold? Or pretty much ignoring it? Or ...?

The outside of my apartment doesn't have any power outlets

It got down to 20's the night they were frosty, but it's been mild, between 45 and 65. Hachi was shivering a little, Nori has a little more fluff than Hachi does. I've been trying to fatten them up a little.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I know it isn't the best pic but what do you guys think of my three? They are just shy of 12 weeks old.

The white spot is actually a loose feather. The only white speckles are on some of their necks. I'm thinking the one in the back is leaning towards boy...

 

[ChicksNherps]

I know it isn't the best pic but what do you guys think of my three? They are just shy of 12 weeks old.

The white spot is actually a loose feather. The only white speckles are on some of their necks. I'm thinking the one in the back is leaning towards boy...

Cute blues =D They look like pet quality, but they look sweet

 

[aoxa]

Please excuse the drowned silkies 








The outside of my apartment doesn't have any power outlets   It got down to 20's the night they were frosty, but it's been mild, between 45 and 65. Hachi was shivering a little, Nori has a little more fluff than Hachi does. I've been trying to fatten them up a little.

The reason they were wet is because you don't have enough ventilation to let the condensation they create from their breaths to escape. If you cut a hole at the roofline, and secure that with hardware cloth, it will help let the moisture escape. Since they are at ground level, the wind won't reach them from the top. Draft is really better than no ventilation. They will end up with respiratory issues from the lack of ventilation as well.

 

[aoxa]

Cute blues =D They look like pet quality, but they look sweet 

Since they are only 12 weeks old, it's hard to tell quality. My girls did not look like they do now at 12 weeks.

I do think they are adorable as well, and could possibly turn out really nice!

 

[ChicksNherps]

The reason they were wet is because you don't have enough ventilation to let the condensation they create from their breaths to escape. If you cut a hole at the roofline, and secure that with hardware cloth, it will help let the moisture escape. Since they are at ground level, the wind won't reach them from the top. Draft is really better than no ventilation. They will end up with respiratory issues from the lack of ventilation as well.

So does the huge hole in the front not create ventilation? Because there is no door there, it is just an opening. I am planning on putting ventilation up by the roof when I put a flap over the opening.