⠀ Wintering over my silkies in ky

[Frank758]

I have always used a heat lamp with my silkies and am rethinking this winter . They are enclosed in a chicken house with deep litter and have an area enclosed off the back which is dry, they also run in my fenced garden when it is not raining, do you think they will be able to winter over with out the lamp?

 

[LoveChickens123]

we have a lamp in our pen for the silkies but we really don't use. But with the deep litter and they would huddle together at night i believe they would be alright. mine do that at night they cuddle in a circle and they stay warm at night, but i am further south. I might run a heat lamp depending on how cold it gets if i were you but that is my opinion.

 

[Frank758]

I have been reading a lot of articles talking about fires in chicken coops, I have two Rhode Island reds I am afraid will hit a heat lamp and cause a fire in my chicken coop . I never had any trouble with silkies since they like to stay low, I am thinking about getting rid of the hest lamps this winter , do far they just huddle together but it is only November, any suggestions? Thank you janie

 

[DrMikelleRoeder]

Try putting a wire cage over the heat lamp so the birds cannot knock it. You may not even need a true heat lamp; a 40-watt bulb can keep a small coop at a temperature that is quite comfortable for birds that have their winter feathering. Adding more litter can also be helpful. If your coop is not insulated, then you may, indeed, need a heat lamp.

 

[henney penny]

I have silkies and it gets very cold here in northern Maine.I use panel heater that either hangs on the wall or has wheels.It does not get hot on the sides on in the back.No fan to plug up with dust.I love it and its safe