Silkies and the rain

[posey]

Hi Silkie Owners:
I have read that silkies don't grow water-repellant feathers (which I can clearly see on my 2 month old.)

The article went on to say that because of the type of feathers that they do have if they get caught in a rain it can be deadly.

Is this statement true?

We are first time chicken owners and have a mixed flock of brahmas, wyandottes, australorps, and silkies. They are all young yet and we only leave them out to peck and graze for about an hour at a time under our supervision.

Eventually, when they are old enough, we will let them out in the morning to hang out in their movable run and lock them in the coop again at night. We haven't made the 'tractor run' yet and are open to suggestions. We were planning on providing cover over the top from sun and rain. However they would get wet if the rain was coming down on an angle or worse yet blowing horizontal.

We are just looking to the future and are wondering what ya'll do with the silkies? Do you keep them separately from the other chickens? If so what type of coop/run situation do they need?

What about a surprise rain storm when we are away from home?

Any thoughts would be helpful.
Thanks,
Posey

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The statement "silkies don't do well in rain/wet weather" is based upon cold wet weather. The silkie feathering is dense and dues to the structure of the feathers, takes considerably longer to dry than a regular feathered bird. In the summer with warm/hot weather there is not as much of a problem (unless there is a flood, and then they cannot fly up to a roost as can other birds).

In winter or cool weather a thorough soaking can prove deadly. Much less likely, but not impossible in summer weather.

 

[posey]

Thank you, I understand about the temperature and season.

So if I am not home in the warmer seasons and it rains, do I need to drop what I am doing and run home?

Or will they be okay if I provide a section of the run that would be surrounded on top and sides for rain cover?

If they get wet in warm weather do I need to bring them in and dry them with a hairdryer?

Thanks
Posey

 

[astylishgirl]

My little, darling silkies have to be carried out of the rain. They have about 1 foot that is not covered and if it rains they will all huddle miserably there until we move them.

 

[posey]

Okay, I think I am getting the picture.

They are gorgeous but that comes at a price - gott'a fuss over them, yeh?

I can do that, I fuss over all of them. LOL

I just needed to know if I must be extra viligant of the rain.
Guess so.

Thanks ya'll

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
My silkies live in covered top dog run type pens. Each day one pen gets let out to free range winter and summer. If it starts to rain mine hurry back into their pen out of the rain. As long as you provide a spot where the wet weather can't reach them they ought to be just fine as long as they are smart enough to go under shelter. It's important to note for about a month each year some of my pens turn to complete mud and as long as they have a dry spot to go (I use a large dog house and a large oak branch/stump in each pen) and as long as their bodies don't get covered all over with mud they are ok. If you see one caked with mud it has to be brought inside, washed in warm water and dried completely before going back out into the pen. Usually they know not to get covered with mud and that would only happen if they fell, or were sick or something. Usually they are fairly hardy.

 

[Z_chicken]

My silkies love the rain. They're freerange in a suburban area. I have plenty of dry hiding for them, but they only use it if it's pouring and it's cold. Drizzle through light rain, they're out in it. I think they like it because their feathers stick together and they can see.

 

[posey]

Oh thanks. Glad to know that they aren't 'that' fragile.

I am sure that I will fret over all of my chickens the first time they are out in the rain until I see how they are going to react.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Mine love the rain too. They are the first out in it and the last to come in. They look like little drowned rats when they saunter back in, but they seem pretty happy. I do try to keep the run covered in winter so that they don't get too wet. But they are happy little campers in the summer rains. Silly chickens!