silkies and the cold...

[sunket77]

yes I am one of those Texans that is concerned about the freezing temps we almost NEVER see... I have one silkie in a flock of 13 and she is the bottom of the totem pole and huddled in a corner by herself. My coop is not insulated and there is no heat, but they are pretty well guarded from drafts. Is she going to be ok since she won't huddle up with the others? My poor babies dealt with 104 plus this summer and a drought and now this! yikes coldest winter in 20 years!

 

[4chickns]

I live in New Jersey and was worried about our 2 silkies when it started getting cold. We have been having temps in the teens at night and low twenties during the day and they seem to be just fine. They want to be outside all day, I can't believe they don't want to cuddle up, but they actually can't wait to be let out of their coop in the morning! Is it getting any colder than that by you?
I'm sure she'll be just fine, as long as the coop is dry and draft-free and she has some straw or bedding to snuggle up in.

 

[clucky2]

You'd laugh at our idea of a cold winter in Northern Cal. but I also have a lone silkie who usually sleeps by herself in a nestbox. She seems just fine, and sometimes even has another big hen try to join her! However, I'm thinking of gettting another silkie to keep her cozy. I don't really want another chicken in our suburban backyard, but I sometimes feel she needs one of her own kind!

 

[sunket77]

She is so silly... she was one of a trio I kept, the roo got mean and the only way to give him away was with a pullet. If I bring her in she is perfectly content to stay in a laundry basket. But if I leave her in the coop she is a loner and wont try to cuddle with the other birds accept my banty cochin roo, he loves her.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

If you only have one Silkie in the coop, and she's on the floor by herself, I'd at least put a heat lamp near the floor for her...

Or since she's a Silkie, and deserving of luxurious surroundings, fix her up a pet carrier and take her inside.


Oh wait.. you have 13 Silkies and only one is sleeping away from the flock.... see above.

 

[sunket77]

Oh no she is the only one in a mixed flock of other breeds...

 

[FortWorthChicks]

aww i would bring her inside. I have a silkie roo but he roost snuggled up between his big girls and keeps snug. Also I have a heated water set up that I think puts out a little heat.
But If he were not roosting snugly with his big girls I would bring him inside my garage and set him up a heater for sure!!