Youngest cold weather chicks

[sdaikus]

I have two new silkie bantams that I received from a lady who had to thin her flock. They are about 10 weeks now. I hate to be the early bird (no pun intended) but winter will be here before I know it. It starts to get below 65 at night here in less then a month, if not sooner. Then the weather quickly declines from there. Should I keep them inside for the winter? I'm nervous they will be too young for freezing temps.. Thanks for the help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Where do you live? And what do you consider freezing temperatures? What's your coop like? I would not keep any chicken inside a house for the winter.

I've kept silkies here in Wisconsin where temperatures can get down into the -20's with -40's wind chills and they did fine without any extra heat.

Your coop needs to be adequate. Good ventilation but no drafts, and big enough in case they have to stay inside it for days during bad weather.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

x2

Silkies can be more temperamental and sensitive, so I find that if the coop is dry with a covered run (in my very rainy Oregon), they do fine.

I don't let them free range in the mud as they become mud balls, literally. They are so heavily foot feathered and low to the ground they soak up mud like a cotton ball.

LofMc

 

[sdaikus]

@oldhenlikesdogs

Anything below 32. I'm in CT. I have older chickens and they have been through the winter just fine.. It's there age I worry about. They will be about 18 weeks when it starts to get below 32, my older chickens were a good 8 months before it was winter so I was just checking.

 

[lazy gardener]

Any chick over the age of 5 weeks should be just fine in freezing temps. I brood my chicks outside with a heating pad brooder, and they wean themselves off heat at 4 weeks of age. They will easily do fine with freezing temps.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@oldhenlikesdogs

Anything below 32. I'm in CT. I have older chickens and they have been through the winter just fine.. It's there age I worry about. They will be about 18 weeks when it starts to get below 32, my older chickens were a good 8 months before it was winter so I was just checking.

They will be fine. I hadn't found silkies to be anymore fragile than other breeds, just different.

 

[sdaikus]

Thanks everyone!