Single silkie alone in coop - *cold* temperatures tonight and in coming days (sun zero)- advice please

[AngBantamLuv]

Faith

Faith is adorable!! Lucky chickie to have such a good chicken parent

 

[SheaLoner]

She is 10 months. Her flock didn’t make it-mareks).
She’s been alone for months (I am working on this, hard in the dead of winter in Colorado).
Snow storm/cold snap starting today (image with temps below, will be in the teens by morning and sub-zero coming days).
The coop I believe is draft free with ventilation and has a brooder plate (producers pride), set up vertically to lean against which she is, tho I’m concerned about its reliability from reviews, and if the brooder setting works properly set up vertically (which is mainly designed for the heater setting. The heater setting *does not* seem like a wise option as it gets *extremely hot* (I’ve measured the surface heat in recent months… it’s read 170+ F and *burns* to the touch), and the coop is small (10sq ft)
Will she be ok? Should I bring her in?
Thank you!

Have you asked at a local feed store if anyone has an old hen or two they would let go? That way she can have warmth and company until you replace your silkie flock

 

[member 615286]

Honestly, I'm struggling to catch my breath trying to understand the discussion of options here. How can you not bring her in? She's by herself, has no one to snuggle with to try and preserve body heat, much less manage any stress, the weather is clearly life threatening, and it appears you do not trust your heating situation in the coop...

Yes! the plan was always to bring her in considering these temperatures, which she is. Everyone is in the warm garage

The questions were more about them sharing a space prematurely.
But they seem to be getting along fine/as would be expected and I’ve kept them separated when I’m not around to observe during the day. She has had free range of the garage many times this winter when the temp has dropped beinf a bantam with no one to snuggle, so it’s ok she flew the coop

 

[member 615286]

Have you asked at a local feed store if anyone has an old hen or two they would let go? That way she can have warmth and company until you replace your silkie flock

Man… I *exhausted* looking for any/all options over weeks (and why she’s been alone two months). Finding/ordering bantams in dead of winter turned out impossible. Finding any birds vaccinated also hugely challenging, eventually gave up and she was scheduled to be euthanized (twice) but made it home both times! A bird with many lives for sure…
She was happy as can be with company but showed concerning signs of stress when alone and made that tough choice…

But she has her flock now! and hoping to add a couple bantams this spring

 

[member 615286]

I live in northern Minnesota, and our nights get down to -35F this time of year. I don't have any heat in my coop. But, my chickens are all winter hardy breeds and I have 7 chickens to huddle next to each other to keep warm while roosting. That makes a difference. Also, I have never had a silkie, and I suspect by your post that they cannot handle the cold as well as my full grown hens.

Given your circumstances, I'd bring her in until the cold snap or storm passes.



I use a plastic dog crate carrier to temporarily house any sick chicken if I have to bring the bird into the house. They are confined to the carrier, but I can put the bird in whatever room I want because I don't have to worry about them getting out and pooing on the furniture. I don't think it would hurt the bird to be confined for a few days.



Like I said, it gets down to -35F where I live on nights this time of year. My chickens will fluff up their down feathers to trap hot air against their body. Chickens have a normal body temperature around 105F. They can keep themselves warm in very cold weather. You don't want to have any draft coming up from underneath the roosting chickens, because that could affect their ability to trap the warm air against their bodies.

My chickens will roost, body to body, so I suspect they help each other conserve their body heat. Since you only have one chicken, she might be at a disadvantage in that respect. Again, my chickens are full sized winter hardy breeds, not a small silkie all by herself.

My suggestion is to get a dog carrier for now, and the future when you have more birds, because you can put a chicken in the carrier and put the bird in whatever room in the house you want. Since you mentioned concern over a young dog in your house, you could surely find a room and close the door to keep the dog out. I think a day or two inside the house would not be a bother for anybody.

If it's an emergency, maybe a large cardboard box would be OK for a day or two. Just cut some holes for ventilation and daylight. Chickens can't see in the dark and therefore will not drink or eat in the dark. Hope things work out for OP.

Thank you! Silkies are surprisingly cold hardy! She’s had a brooder plate in the coop but has only used it when it drops into the teens, and I’ve brought her inside sub-zero as I am tonight. Just wasn’t sure how to make it work with the other two, without the thoughtful integration approaches I’ve read are important. But sped up the process and lots of observation and everyone seems to be doing ok!!

Thanks so much for your insights

 

[member 615286]

This is Faith. She's an Easter Egger Bantam. Cooped with 5 Lg Hens that sometimes won't let Her sit with them. We won't rist that with zero temperatures at night the next 3 days. Shes in Our Shower stall that's about 55/ 60 degrees. She will now be a Mother to 33 Mixed Bantams 1 & 2 weeks old. Shes 7 months. There's not much We wouldn't do for them.
Their Family. Well, about half of 136 are Relative's awaiting homes.

Family indeed

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

Yes! the plan was always to bring her in considering these temperatures, which she is. Everyone is in the warm garage

The questions were more about them sharing a space prematurely.
But they seem to be getting along fine/as would be expected and I’ve kept them separated when I’m not around to observe during the day. She has had free range of the garage many times this winter when the temp has dropped beinf a bantam with no one to snuggle, so it’s ok she flew the coop

I guess my brain cells are not firing well today, as I'm now confused. This thread started with you asking whether to bring the Silkie inside. Now you mention she is with other chickens...?

 

[member 615286]

It appears I'm obsessing a bit about this post, my apologies, just so very concerned about this tiny little life!! Being alone for months is beyond sad. It's difficult going forward considering what you dealt with losing to Marek's. I would strongly recommend making her a little house chicken until she has a flock to call her own. This will at least give her some maternal love and comfort and feelings of safety! I cannot even imagine the stresses the little one deals with, all by herself. Instinctually she doesn't even have the feeling of protection from predators or the elements that her own kind would offer. I cannot think of an animal in nature that lives in complete solitude, while there are some that claim huge territories and appear to be "flying solo." Mother Nature has a design plan for all of them, and living apart from one's own kind is in violation of all her "laws."

All my chickens are house chickens. I "evolved" to this trying to live as cruelty free as possible and looking for good sources of protein in my diet. I live in the city, so am not allowed to have them outside. I researched ad nauseum a chicken's needs and have provided for them accordingly in an inside environment. It's a very long and involved story, but I've had chickens now for 4 years, and they are all very happy cluckers! So, it can be done, and successfully, and for your one little one, until she has her own kind, completely doable!

I hear you. So you know…
This special bird has gotten all the love and attention she can. Everyday as often as possible I’ve been outside with her and she has free range of the property when I can be there to make sure a hawk doesn’t snatch her.
But with the extra cold temps it’s been hard to be outside with her as much, and so I’ve spent a lot of time with her in the garage. Would have considered bringing her indoors to have company ongoing however one of my two Great Dane rescues the trainer shared will kill her based on our thoughtful safe introduction to see how he’d respond (which was not “oh fuzzy toy!” And more “I want to eat her now” so there will be no peace treaty it was determined.
My heart was breaking choosing to put her down but was based on how lonely she was when I wasn’t around, that I couldn’t give her to another flock being infected with mareks and couldn’t find any vaccinated flock mates , I tried *so* hard for weeks giving her so much attention hopeful I’d find others… and it broke my heart. I’d never have made that choice (she is family) otherwise….
But she was so lonely when I wasn’t with her
She really has been loved and given everything I can provide (which is a lot of love and attention as I work from home)
Shes a lucky bird, many many people told me to put her down (to just “start over” … no thank you; and some bc she wasn’t happy when I couldn’t be around, which I understood and also agreed wasn’t humane).
My other senior Great Dane rescue (the “good” one lol) has also become her buddy (he came home in December), but he too can’t spend all day outside in freezing temps.
I’m very excited she has a flock and will have a few bantams when they become available. It’s been a steep hard learning curve the last 11 months! Have learned a lot. Chickens are so amazing.

 

[member 615286]

I guess my brain cells are not firing well today, as I'm now confused. This thread started with you asking whether to bring the Silkie inside. Now you mention she is with other chickens...?

Yes correct. I’ve been bringing her inside when the temp drops as she is solo, but now have young chicks to add to her flock and so was asking about them sharing a space as they haven’t had the extended integration time I’ve read is important. I sped it up and everyone is happy and warm in the garage for the next few days and any more cold snaps this seAson

 

[member 615286]

She is 10 months. Her flock didn’t make it-mareks).
She’s been alone for months (I am working on this, hard in the dead of winter in Colorado).
Snow storm/cold snap starting today (image with temps below, will be in the teens by morning and sub-zero coming days).
The coop I believe is draft free with ventilation and has a brooder plate (producers pride), set up vertically to lean against which she is, tho I’m concerned about its reliability from reviews, and if the brooder setting works properly set up vertically (which is mainly designed for the heater setting. The heater setting *does not* seem like a wise option as it gets *extremely hot* (I’ve measured the surface heat in recent months… it’s read 170+ F and *burns* to the touch), and the coop is small (10sq ft)
Will she be ok? Should I bring her in?
Thank you!

*thanks* all for you thoughts insights but mostly your concerns for her!!
Love that you all love your flock as much as I do