Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[LadiesAndJane]

My Splash Silkie hen

She’s a beauty.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I'm doing some coop renos (working progress) and wondering what all you Silkie owners think of drafts? My timber pieces have gaps in between so do you think it's ok for them? Our Winters can go down to -2 degrees Celsius.
I currently have 8 chickens in this coop and have a broody coop area inside it, just adding some shelves for roosts. Inspector Biscuit approves I think! Haha.. he's always close by me whatever I'm doing!
You can see in pic some of the roosts area (which isn't finished yet).. the gaps in the wood...

 

[Chickeria]

Well I candled all 8 eggs Puff was sitting on and all were not fertile!!! I'm guessing Rooster isn't allowing Biscuit to mate the hens so I'm not getting fertile eggs. (And Rooster isn't fertilising)
I was so ready for chicks! And so was Puff!!
I don't think the hens will like it (because they like Rooster) but I'm going to have to move Rooster to the other coop and bring in Cookie and just hope Cookie and Biscuit will get along ok And give me fertile eggs!

Oh no - I'm sorry about Puff's 8 eggs
Fingers crossed that Cookie and Biscuit will get along and that the hens will approve! ...and Puff can brood soon again

 

[Chickeria]

My Splash Silkie hen

She is a lovely girl

 

[Chickeria]

I'm doing some coop renos (working progress) and wondering what all you Silkie owners think of drafts? My timber pieces have gaps in between so do you think it's ok for them? Our Winters can go down to -2 degrees Celsius.
I currently have 8 chickens in this coop and have a broody coop area inside it, just adding some shelves for roosts. Inspector Biscuit approves I think! Haha.. he's always close by me whatever I'm doing!
You can see in pic some of the roosts area (which isn't finished yet).. the gaps in the wood...
View attachment 2802472
View attachment 2802473
View attachment 2802474

I love Inspector Biscuit!

When I built my silkies' coop some unplanned slots appeared here and there
So I added wooden strips in the places that were on the silkies height to close the slots. The ones above their heads I let (mostly) be.
Last year we got - 7 °C in winter. Sometimes I wonder if I added too much ventilation.

 

[LynnaePB]

I'm doing some coop renos (working progress) and wondering what all you Silkie owners think of drafts? My timber pieces have gaps in between so do you think it's ok for them? Our Winters can go down to -2 degrees Celsius.
I currently have 8 chickens in this coop and have a broody coop area inside it, just adding some shelves for roosts. Inspector Biscuit approves I think! Haha.. he's always close by me whatever I'm doing!
You can see in pic some of the roosts area (which isn't finished yet).. the gaps in the wood...
View attachment 2802472
View attachment 2802473
View attachment 2802474

The coop looks lovely!

I would think those small gaps would be good for ventilation during the warmer months. In the colder months perhaps putting an easily removable barrier (like a tarp) over the areas where wind can blow on the roosts might help keep them a little warmer.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I love Inspector Biscuit!

When I built my silkies' coop some unplanned slots appeared here and there
So I added wooden strips in the places that were on the silkies height to close the slots. The ones above their heads I let (mostly) be.
Last year we got - 7 °C in winter. Sometimes I wonder if I added too much ventilation.

-7 is very cold!! I have lots of ventilation, upper half is all wire but I have tarps over 2 sides at the moment and other 2 sides I can tie up the tarps or fully open in Summer so it doesn't get hot in there. I leave one tarp side half open all Winter.
I might cover the gaps at roost height, thanks for the idea!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

The coop looks lovely!

I would think those small gaps would be good for ventilation during the warmer months. In the colder months perhaps putting an easily removable barrier (like a tarp) over the areas where wind can blow on the roosts might help keep them a little warmer.

Thanks! I will put a tarp over the gaps .. I will be moving the roosts around and adding more roost shelving for more room for more fluffies!! That should keep them warmer too, body heat

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Good evening fellow silkie lovers!
I just started a thread to demonstrate young (12-16 week olds, 3-4 months) silkie crests to help with gender ID. It is not meant to be a gender ID thread per say, but rather an assist for people with silkies to show what these can look like. Please post photos of examples that you may have if you are so inclined. Unusual examples are also great (like my pullet that has streamers). Hoping this can end up being a good resource, ideally should be birds no older than 4 months.
Thanks!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/24820461

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Good evening fellow silkie lovers!
I just started a thread to demonstrate young (12-16 week olds, 3-4 months) silkie crests to help with gender ID. It is not meant to be a gender ID thread per say, but rather an assist for people with silkies to show what these can look like. Please post photos of examples that you may have if you are so inclined. Unusual examples are also great (like my pullet that has streamers). Hoping this can end up being a good resource, ideally should be birds no older than 4 months.
Thanks!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/24820461

I'll see if i have some good non-bearded shots! Good idea!