silkies in winter?

[misfitgang]

hi, i am wondering if silkies need heat to survive in a central pennsylvania winter?

 

[morelcabin]

All of mine survived the -37C week we had last winter. I did have to take them in the house for two days though because they were growing frost on thier feathers

But the rest of the winter they were fine...our regular days here are -20C during winter

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Is your coop heated or insulated?

 

[monarc23]

anyone here in PA i know with silkies doesnt' do anything special for them

i think you're fine as long as they dont get soaked

 

[misfitgang]

well, i haven't built a coop yet.... i guess i am still in the "planning" stages. but i was going to build one with wheels that way i can move it to the front in the winter where i get almost full day sun. and it will either be insulated, or double walled. my yard is fenced with a 4 foot high chain link, and i was planning to let the little girls just free range on my property. but i do have hawks in my area. so i was hoping they would be smart enough to hide when the hawk is near, like the wild birds do. and i also am wondering if the fence will be adequate to keep them contained in my yard, and not my neighbors. thanks

 

[morelcabin]

Quote:
Is your coop heated or insulated?

No it isn't heated or insulated. If I could go back I definitely would insulate, but it is double walled and when I tried pulling the interior walls off it was not going to be so easy so it is staying as it...
I would never heat though, that really causes more harm than good. Insulate for sure! It will make everything much easier!