Silkies question

[ejtrout31]

hi I am thinking about getting silkies about 20 I would like to put them in a chicken tractor but can’t pick one. A live in northern Minnesota will it be to cold. I was wondering to they lay a lot of eggs. Are they docile I have little nephew who visit often. Thank u so much for help.

 

[ejtrout31]

I also have a big coop for free range birds but would like to put in pen.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Silky are great fun I joke mine are not real chicken but why so many ?

 

[snow5164]

Silkies can be nice friendly birds if they are handled regularly. My rooster is nasty but he’s just trying to protect the girls from us

The kids that come to my house all hold my silkies , they are good egg producers for their size . I get 7-8 eggs a week from 3. These eggs are small when measured by weight.

They can’t get wet or cold because their feathers are more soft then other chickens , their feet have feathers and get wet easily

 

[pennyJo1960]

You have to realize if they are not as tolerant of wet and cold I cannot let my free range I have three outside cats that would hunt them they are that small and they go broody often I j have 4 that brood eggs for me

 

[snow5164]

That is true they do go broody often ... mine seem to bounce back after a few days though .

Not a good breed to free range though .. in my opinion

 

[Kessel23]

I don't think you could keep any chicken in a chicken tractor over winter in northern Minnesota. I had to bring some of my silkies indoors during the coldests months last winter because they kept getting water on their feathers and it would freeze, they were in a coop btw. I live in Southern Wisconsin so my winters are much warmer than the ones by you.
Silkies are not good egg producers, their eggs are tiny and they will only lay 3-4 times a week, also they go broody very often. Silkies are very nice but you are going to end up with a ton of roosters because silkies only come in straight run, unless you order them from here-
https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Baby-Chicks/Buff-Silkie-Bantam-p254.aspx
but if you do that then you are paying $16 per chick and the sexing is not 90% like it is with large breeds.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Silkies make excellent pets. They do not handle cold as well as other breeds because their feathers are not as insulating and prone to getting wet. They are friendly. They lay poorly compared to large breeds and will give 3-4 small eggs a week when not broody.
They range fine in a safe, low predator area like an urban yard but will quickly become prey in high predator areas due to their crests and color.

 

[Silkie_Mom]

Silkies are great family chickens. They are my daughter's favorite. Try to keep them dry and warm. Their coop needs are much more different than other chickens. Mine rarely go 3-4 feet off the ground. Not to eat, not to roost, not to avoid predators. Low roots are perfect. Something they can all huddle together close .
I usually get 1 egg every 2 days per silkie hen. They are super broody. Great for hatching other hens eggs if you ever have a hen that just won't go broody. Don't know how many times I'd have a silkie with a bunch of adopted babies chasing her across the yard lol.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

They are super sweet!