Some experts say chickens don’t really start suffering until the temperature inside their coop falls to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Rhode Island Reds were originally developed in New England (specifically Massachusetts and Rhode Island – does the name make sense?) https://www.communitychickens.com/gentle-breeds-zw02003ztil There are different type of feeds available depending on the purpose (such as meat, eggs or breeding) of keeping silkie chickens. It is thought that they originated in India, China or Japan and they arrived in Europe around 200 years ago where they were sold as crosses between rabbits and chickens! What Temperature Is Too Cold For Chickens? Silkies can tolerate some heat, but they can’t tolerate extreme heat. Some people even say some breeds can survive in temperatures below zero. A few breeds are not cold-hardy. Silkie Chickens Need Tender, Loving Care. Water does tend to run off the feathers of non Silkie Feathered birds better the Silkie feathers so keeping the dry in inclement weather is a good practice. You can feed your birds with layer pellets when they begin laying. 3. Can young chickens handle cold weather? Baby chicks require heat of about 95 degrees their first week of life. Draft and going to bed wet in extreamely cold weather is a killer for chickens. We recommend keeping a hygrometer and thermometer inside the coop to keep a good eye on the humidity and temperatures. Silkie chickens are one of the most charming and sweet natured breeds you will come across- we are yet to meet a silkie we haven’t fallen completely in love with! For that reason, you may want to provide some sort of additional heat source in the coop, and slowly lower the temperature every few days until it is about … Also, their feathers don’ t shed water and so it is lethal for them to get wet and damp in the winter. 2. Silkies do not have the same type of feathers to insulate them as other chickens. Chickens have an amazing tolerance for cold, and many built-in measures to keep them warm in winter.There are a number of things that you can do to help make them comfortable, and they’re easy to boot! When it comes to outdoor activities, remember Silkie chickens will not tolerate weather extremes of either heat or cold. As a species the chicken is more tolerant to cold than hot conditions but it is often not the cold that is the issue. When I lived in Mn. They are intelligent birds, can be a bit noisy, but generally are a great fit with other birds. Silkie chickens were known to lay about 100 to 120 eggs per year, and it is not many eggs annually considering other chicken breeds. Many chicken breeds are bred specifically for their ability to withstand and even thrive in cold temperatures. My silkies seem to be doing fine in a moderately cold aviary that is right about freezing temperatures. I bathe our chickens when absolutely necessary like before a show, or if badly infested with external parasites, like mites or lice, is about the only time our Silkies get bathed. So, if you have Silkies, you’ll definitely want to keep them in an insulated coop, and consider using fans or even an air conditioner. Weather Conditions . On a cold night as your chickens huddle together, their body heat can bring the temperature of the coop up. Top 15 Cold Hardy Chicken Breeds. Their feathers may look thick but actually they don't do a good job of keeping Silkies warm, so very cold climates aren't good - unless, again, they can be kept warm and sheltered. In the pecking order, they can be last Birds can easily tolerate temperatures into the 50’s at this age, and cold-tolerant breeds can tolerate temperatures into the 40’s. Going to the roost cold and wet is a killer for the Silkie. Second week you can lower the temperature to 90 degrees and so on with every week going down 5 degrees until 6-8 weeks old or when they are ready to go "outside". This is the best investment for silkie chickens in a cold climate coop. I had a Silkie cross hatch some chicks in February a few years ago when there was 2 … They are a lightweight chicken with a broad, stout looking body which is covered in fine fluffy feathers. Sure you could heat your coop (although I caution against it for these reasons), you could insulate your coop or use the Deep Litter Method, but if you live in a northern climate, the easiest thing to do is to choose cold-hardy breeds in the first place.. 20 Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds. Therefore, you’ll want to avoid breeds like Silkies, which don’t dry out easily in cold, wet weather or when there is a draft in the coop. (Dec 7, 2016 in Colorado) They have the option to get under a heat lamp if they want to but there does not seem to be any interest. How Do My Chicks Survive Shipment? The Silkie breed is fairly resistant to the cold but are very sensitive to high temperatures. If you have other breeds of birds you may want to use some Waxlene on their combs and wattles to protect them. There is a wide selection of breeds considered particularly cold-hardy to choose from. Give birds a few days to adjust to the colder temperatures if they have been in a warm space prior to going outside.