Silkies heads look wet or frozen

[Alex#242]

First off I live in Kentucky so it has been single digits the past few days. This morning when I went out to thaw water and feed I noticed my biggest roosters head feathers looked wet and were stiff to the touch. Then I noticed almost all my silkies had this look going on at the same time some only a little and some were very bad. I have left them in the coop the past few days due to the extremely low temps. Any ideas as to what this is?

 

[AlleysChicks]

From drinking is my guess. Mine do that so they can see.

 

[Feathyr]

How is the ventilation in your coop? You need some form of air flow - but not drafts - otherwise condensation from the birds will collect on things inside the coop.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

When silkies get wet they can chill and die very quickly. I suggest keeping them in a dog crate in your garage or house until the temperatures above freezing consistently. Lack of ventilation is probably causing the problem. I’ve kept silkies through the winter and have never had this problem.

 

[Brookethechickenwhisperer]

I would bring them inside(if ok with you)or keep them outside and get a blow dryer and warm them up. That should help out your problem!

 

[Alex#242]

This isn’t what they have as far as ventilation a gap between the wall and roof on both sides and the front and back. This is a small coop only around 5x5 and houses 4 silkies. The birds don’t seem to be in any kind of distress they are walking around eating and drinking like normal. They really want to go outside into their run but I work second shift right now and am afraid to leave them out while I’m gone because I have seen several times where a hen will sit outside after the others have gone in. The temperature has been this cold all week but this is the first time I have noticed it.

 

[pennyJo1960]

First off I live in Kentucky so it has been single digits the past few days. This morning when I went out to thaw water and feed I noticed my biggest roosters head feathers looked wet and were stiff to the touch. Then I noticed almost all my silkies had this look going on at the same time some only a little and some were very bad. I have left them in the coop the past few days due to the extremely low temps. Any ideas as to what this is? View attachment 1223635View attachment 1223636

see if there is somewhere that you could warm them up with hair dryer on low just warm up the top feathers the rest is fine they do not heat heat all the time if they have feathers

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

View attachment 1223674This isn’t what they have as far as ventilation a gap between the wall and roof on both sides and the front and back. This is a small coop only around 5x5 and houses 4 silkies. The birds don’t seem to be in any kind of distress they are walking around eating and drinking like normal. They really want to go outside into their run but I work second shift right now and am afraid to leave them out while I’m gone because I have seen several times where a hen will sit outside after the others have gone in. The temperature has been this cold all week but this is the first time I have noticed it.

Seems like you have enough ventilation. I hope you get this resolved soon

 

[Alex#242]

Well I blow dried their feathers on low got them mostly dry. I’m letting it run on them on low as to not heat them to quick. Also laid down some fresh shavings so fingers crossed.