Chickens like to roost sleeping with their feet off the ground. Like us on Facebook to get weekly updates on what we currently have for sale. Good Silkie housing must have a solid roof and walls. They are not the perfect egg laying chickens. and American Silkie Bantam Club. $30. ( Log Out /  1. The type of the house can be any depending on your budget and also on the availability of the materials. We may receive compensation when you click on links or buy those products. Though their little bodies are fairly resistant to the cold, silkies are sensitive to high temperatures, so care needs to be taken to ensure they have enough cool water to drink and that they can retreat to shade if need be. An old wooden ladder can work for large birds. ! Housing Silkies Silkies are pretty adaptable to any housing situation and will do just fine in small areas. Provide perches. Silkie Chickens - chicks - these are TRUE silkies - Hens - Egg Layers $0 (dal) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. We started by making the floor of the coop. Otherwise a covered run is their best protection from flying predators. They are one of the friendliest chicken breeds and will appreciate attention and company. You should always home bantams in dry, draught-free housing. VJP Poultry is an NPIP and state inspected hatchery located 30 miles north of St. Paul. My current coop is aout 4x4, and is only used for sleeping. favorite this post Nov 21 Silkie & Showgirl Chicks $10 (cha > chester) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. Line nesting boxes with fresh straw. ( Log Out /  Offer fresh air and sunshine. Ventilation is very important to the health of your birds. Use hardware cloth stapled over the window screens to keep predators from making their way inside. The reason I tend to get roosters is that I’m very bossy at the feed store, I want the plumpest, largest, most sturdy-looking chicks … They love to be pet and given lots of attention. Like all chickens, silkies need some time outdoors where they can soak up the sun and eat bugs and grass. For tips and tricks for raising outstanding silkies check out our Chicken Learning Center at VJPPoultry.com . Silkies were accepted into the American Standard of Perfection as of 1874. Nesting boxes needn't be elaborate. The appearance of a Silkie can vary. We did not bother putting in a roosting pole or nesting boxes. I have about 8 feet of roost space. Remember, not all the bedding materials are same and some beddings are better than others. Silkie chickens have slightly different requirements when it comes to housing. favorite this post Nov 23 Silkies Chickens-Roosters Only SQ/BQ A silkie pen needs to be kept neat and tidy. Your choice of housing must offer your birds a place of protection from rain, wind and too much sun. I scrubbed them weekly but they eventually started to come away from the walls. Your choice of housing must offer your birds a place of protection from rain, wind and too much sun. The roof has long overhangs. When they get wet, they look drenched. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Silkies cannot fly because of their unique feathers. Silkies do not like high ramps, especially with their eyesight often being blocked by feathers. Silkie chickens have slightly different requirements when it comes to housing. Look for sturdiness in these pre-made coops that can withstand the elements and predators. Their fluffy feathers do not let water bead off of them. All chickens will seek a quiet nest area to lay eggs. Allow about eight inches of perch per bird. Silkies are very happy to be contained in a run, as long as it's dry and mud-free. These bantam chickens are gentle, quieter than most, docile and like people. Their extremely soft, almost fur-like plumage, covers their bodies from head to toe like a winter parka. Can also be used as the run for chickens. So arrange the place correctly before those birds are brought home. NPIP Certified #58-1461-E HELP ORLANDO CITY RESIDENTS GET PERMISSION TO KEEP CHICKENS! There are two types of Silkies, bearded and nonbearded Silkies. Protect your Silkies from predators. Silkies tolerate heat and cold well, but Silkies' feathers are not like other chickens' feathers. Here is some guidance on exhibiting silkies and the silkie breed standard. Water will not run off their backs. Making a good housing systemis very important for Silkie chicken farming business. This worked perfect for our needs. Chickens thrive on foraging in the open. If you have trouble with weasels or mink, make sure that all small holes are plugged up and windows are secure with hardware cloth. Any of these options will work for Silkie housing as long as they include a few essential qualities. favorite this post Nov 23 Silkie chickens (bearded) $30 (Coral Terrace) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. There is a long walkway inside with four sections of divided pens. Raising Hens on the Pasture During Cold, Snowy Winters, How to Build a Temporary Pen for Hens and Baby Chicks. If you don’t want to build a coop yourself, there are a few coops that are available for sale that are good for silkies. We hatch out silkies all year long so we always have stock available. They also did not use the nesting boxes, but preferred to find a corner on the floor in which to lay their eggs. You want to make it up off of the ground but at the same time as low as possible for silkies. Appearance. About Silkie Chickens. We piled gravel on top of the the hardware cloth and placed pea rock on top of that. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I just scored a free "deer stand cabin" from Academy. Housing-A proper house is a must raise silkie chickens. You want to protect those feathers by having soft bedding or even using dirt or sand in the coop or run. There is no specific documentation of the origin nor the breeds that went into creating Silkie Chickens. Modern Walk-in Chicken Coop Plans 16' x 10' so you could house at least 9 chickens comfortably. Silkie hens - chicks - silkies chickens hen pullet $0 (eug) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. They range in size from large to bantam Silkies. We added electricity out to it, put in nest boxes and roosting poles and had a ramp going down to a chain link fence enclosed run. Overnight accommodation should allow for about 50cm2 per bird. I have also experienced some losses from housing bantams with full size chickens. It should be constructed from a sturdy timber, with a galvanised wire mesh and sturdy locks to keep out unwanted visitors. Silkies tolerate heat and cold well, but Silkies' feathers are not like other chickens' feathers. Coops that are described as rabbit hutches are often on one level . Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I'm in a mild climate so they are not indoors for long period. Silkie Bantams are small chickens so can be easily kept in a yard with a hen house. Place the bottom roost at least two feet off of the ground and do not place roosts immediately above each other. Silkie chickens are fantastic little chickens with big personalities!! Place nesting boxes two feet off the floor of the coop. Install good ventilation system inside the house. Place them far apart to discourage bullying by dominant birds. favorite this post Dec 8 Chicks -Silkie Chickens these are TRUE silkies - Hens - Egg Layers $0 (dal) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. They follow their own rules and do need a bit of extra care, but are so worth it! If your predators are diggers like fox, make sure that you have buried hardware cloth around your run. Bec… Silkies have beautiful feathered feet. We covered the run with a metal sloping roof. The birds have black skin and bones underneath loads of downy feathers that feel like silk, hence their name. Materials cost about $1800. Silkies are sweet and chatty, love company and are considered the “lap kitty” of chickens. It is very sturdy and tall. $10. Empower Her. Silkie chickens are great for backyards. Bantams weigh up to 32 oz and the large fowl being between three and four pounds.. Silkies can have white, black, gray, brown, and golden feathers. The first coop we had was a refurbished ice house. Silkies, because they’re more of a pet chicken than a layer, are often sold in a straight run, meaning there is a 50/50 chance of getting a pullet or a cockerel. Just three enclosed sides with a roof and bedding is all your Silkies need. Silkies do not do well in the rain. Silkie chickens are a popular choice for backyard flocks because their inability to fly makes it difficult for them to escape the confines of a suburban yard. They get along well with other chickens and can easily be raised in confinement. Allow one feeder and waterer per 25 chickens. This gives them a unique and lovable appearance. These chickens can be classified as bantams or by many breed standards, large fowl. Housing. We made sure that the ramp to the ground was a long gradual incline. Silkies do not do well with drafts so you want that air moving up above them. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. They can adjust to a variety of housing types and situations. The other coops had plastic sheeting on the floor and sides. 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