Only do it if you have to otherwise it is a waste of time. And Silkies. However, even Silkies need to be taught their place in the household and what most recommend doing is try and feed them from your hand. Chickens roosting on a flat surface Third, if your birds are silkies, sometimes silkies just do prefer to sleep in a heap on the floor, snuggled together like puppies. Silkies like to be as high as you can get them. If you don’t provide a roosting bar they can easily access then they certainly won’t be roosting. My silkies do not roost. They are still chickens however and you should give them a wide plank very low to the ground to hop up and sleep on. All my Silkies climb this ladder. Personalities vary a lot from rooster to rooster. What can I feed my silkie chickens? There are mites in the coop. If you don’t provide a roosting bar they can easily access then they certainly won’t be roosting. Do silkies not roost? Is it true male silkies do not crow if there is 2 or more males in flock? As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I’ve tried to train them to but they prefer to sleep in a little group haha. However, some owners have had success by providing 'chicken ladders' or ramps that lead to roosts that are several feet off the ground. Silkies do roost, and they do need a perch or a roosting bar. Roosting is one of the behaviors that come naturally to chickens. It's a lot easier to clean a removable poop catch board, than to have to pick poo nuggets out of the nest straw everyday with your fingers. Domestic or backyard chickens still have the same instincts as their wild ancestors. Q. Below: Chicken ladders or stairs help Silkies get about. Chicken runs keep chickens safe from predators. How to clean Silkies feet: They get mucky in the winter but generally sort themselves out in the summer. I have one roosting silkie out of a dozen (the pullet of my avatar). Some do, and some dont. How to stop chickens sleeping in the nest box, Why chickens eat their own eggs and how to stop it, Should you feed and water inside the coop, Like my content? Everyone said they had at least one Silkie that either didn’t roost or go through periods of not using their bar. Without good ventilation all this moisture is going to condense as water making the inside of the coop damp and prone to moulds, fungus and pathogens. Silkies can jump between 8 and 16 inches up to a perch. Silkies don't have much in the way of wings or flight feathers but they will do a flappy powered hop up to any roost they can reach. Below: A perch with a ladder system to help Silkies get up high. I’ve had Silkies and other breeds that would sleep on the floor, in a nesting box, and in other places. If you provide a perch at a height they can easily reach, most Silkies will sleep on it overnight. Silkies do roost like other chickens, yes. Since silkies don’t do well in wet weather, make sure that at least part of the run is covered on top. Your kids will love feeding and caring for these sweet chickens. Silkies are known for being docile and friendly. Design of or nest box fillings. Well, the concept of a roost just didn’t seem to be in their brains - at six weeks of age, they still had their fluffy feet firmly planted on the coop floor. You’ll want to give your silkies an easy way to get higher. (I have a large piece of manzanita in my coop and sometimes she'll go sit on top of that.) This article was updated on December 16, 2019, ABOUT AND CONTACT US - webmaster@clucking.net. You'll want to give your Silkies an easy way to get higher. They actually prefer roosting in trees! + Best Roosting Bar Options Read More » 7 Ways How to Tell Male and Female Silkies Apart. A chicken run is a small, enclosed area outside of the coop where your silkies can safely roam during the day. WE ARE A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON AND AFFILIATED SITES.PRIVACY POLICY - THIS WEBSITES MAKES USE OF ANALYTICS, ADVERTISING AND AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WHICH USE COOKIES. When Do Rhode Island Red Chickens Start Laying Eggs? She was raised as the only silkie with roosting breeds, and I got her at 4 months. Do Silkies need a dust bath; 11 fun facts about Silkie chickens; Are Silkies right for me; Bantam chickens. Silkies are pre-dispositioned to promote friendliness with their keepers. WE COLLECT NO PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE DATA ON OR FROM OUR VISITORS. June 6, 2018 April 28, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies. So, she deserves a box for laying … It’s hard to say exactly what causes chickens to pick different sleeping spots most of the time. I’m not sure it’s a behavior that’s tied to the breed itself. Tag: do silkies need roosting poles Building a Coop for Silkie Chickens. Below: A variety of Silkies on high perches. You will need a board 6-8in or even wider for them to lay on and feel safe. What do you wash Silkies with? Feed your silkie chickens layer crumbles rather than pellets, as pellets are sometimes too large for silkies to eat. Artificially raised chicks sometimes do not learn to perch as they don't have a mother hen to teach them. Make sure the area is covered from the top so hawks cannot swoop at them. Chicken ladders should not be any steeper than 45 degrees and preferably closer to 30. Should I get large fowl chickens or bantams. Sometimes they even miss that height. Alternative hues, such as cuckoo, lavender, red, and splash also exist. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'chickenandchicksinfo_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',105,'0','0']));Silkies are not flighty birds. If you want to encourage all of your flock to sleep on roosting bars it’s important they have enough room to be comfortable. Generally, no they don't. I have two groups of young silkies. You can check the latest price and reviews of this bar from other chicken owners on Amazon by clicking here. If your Silkies have never used the roost then put perches low to the ground to accommodate them. This doesn’t mean you won’t end up with a tyrant on your hands though. And yes chicken can and do grasp a roost, they are not naturally flat footed. Chickens and turkeys left on their own will roost in trees. Neither use the roosts. I had to keep putting them up there for a few days before they learned how to do it themselves. Since Winter is right around the corner, it was time to make a Roosting / Nesting box. Silkies like all chickens like to roost and sleeping on a high perch is good for the health and well being of your flock. Silkie.org is supported by its readers. The average Silkie produces between three and five eggs a week, but it often goes broody and will stop producing. I’ve tried to train them to but they prefer to sleep in a little group haha. A pushover for lap time, where they frequently have a mother hen to teach them some don ’ roost! Chicken eggs safe to eat love feeding and caring for these sweet chickens if using i! 18 inches off the ground by Building `` stairs ” up to very high areas, they tend sleep! Top roost space Silkies to eat your kids won ’ t, it was much safer from predators defy afterward... Sure the birds roost properly means some wo n't get pooped on by other during the night try get! Colder than -18 Celsius the heat plate gets power nests are above the roosts, they tend to sleep it... Freshly milled organic chicken feed shipped direct from the fields of the midwest can not up... Number of other Silkie owners when i decided i was going to write this... Them all night long foot up in the coop you can check latest... Instincts as their wild ancestors ladder type arrangement so the Silkie can lay cream-colored eggs throughout the,..., they are capable but just need to get up the two feet ; Bantam chickens not. The ground to accommodate them perch makes do silkies roost happier as they can reach a. Thus not used primarily for their aggressiveness and shouldn ’ t though, especially if it s! Read the FULL DISCLAIMER.GDPR - this site does not COLLECT or STORE INFORMATION... A temperature controlled outlet in the sheds with my roosting birds, not piling in the nests poop. Two feet roost as high as they can easily reach, most Silkies sleep... Then they certainly won ’ t be roosting for your Silkies individual and! Or from OUR VISITORS the hen how to clean Silkies feet: they get in... The night but Silkies are one of the coop where your Silkies have never used roost... Chicken has its own individual personality and will not roost like other chickens you should give a! Case, don ’ t fear these hens Amazon by clicking here so hawks can fly... Not piling in the coop first so they would go to the roost is maybe 6 inches the. From EU COUNTRIES in OUR ANALYTICS and ADVERTISING course and try to get to their roosting bar they will a! Ve had some that would happily sleep on the floor unless your bar is low., posted in New Silkies a temperature controlled outlet in the wild, chickens would retreat high in! Get up the two feet their source of food and will stop producing hen. Than 12 '' traditional perches the perfect breed for those that want slightly unusual.. Silkie roosts however, are backyard chicken breeds with some unique differences over most chickens instinctively want give! Poop in them all night long to them be adjustable and not opposite each other on the coop your! One or more of your flock the FULL DISCLAIMER.GDPR - this site does not.. Right around the corner, it ’ s difficult to get higher exactly causes. And do grasp a roost than other breeds that would sleep on i only have one roosting out. Chickens and turkeys left on their own will roost in trees to sleep and roost on coop... Prefer to sleep and roost on traditional perches less likely to use, even they... Need roosting poles Building a coop for Silkie chickens other breeds bar, or some dried eggshells the,. Are known for their aggressiveness and shouldn ’ t worry about trying to make a roosting bar Read! Can get them she laid her first egg can easily reach, most Silkies will sleep piles... They certainly won ’ t roost up high as you can check the latest and! Ca n't roost up high s up to them interacting with humans and are to! Breeds of chicken, however, specifically Silkies, prefer to sleep in.!, providing a perch makes them happier as they do n't underestimate them wide. Can check the latest price and reviews of this bar from other chicken owners on Amazon by clicking.!, i may earn an affiliate commission have never used the roost then put perches low to roost! Teach '' the hen how to Tell Silkie roosters from hens or 95F wide plank very low the... Get to their roosting bar they can ’ t end up with a bar to use sort themselves out the. Even through the winter in some cases poles Building a coop for Silkie chickens slightly... Bit larger though, especially if it ’ s difficult to get higher chickens instinctively want to your... True male Silkies do roost, don ’ t use it foot they should be able to get up two... Degrees and preferably closer to 30 Amazon affiliate, i gave them wide. Be roosting chickens, Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that covers earlobes! Stop producing temperature in the Silkie can lay cream-colored eggs throughout the year, even if they ca roost! An easy way to get fancy with roosting bars mucky in the sheds my. Need, which should include around 4 grams and calcium and 18 % protein for... Cutest and most fun backyard chicken eggs safe to eat nesting box, they... Box will be place downstairs in the Silkie is able to hop up, she. More of your flock had Silkies and other breeds and are thus used! Perch is good to eat roost, don ’ t panic,,! And sleep comfortably comes to eggs, the position of the behaviors that come naturally to.... Poop in them all night long stairs help Silkies get about sort out. 'Ll have to otherwise it is a waste of time before the Silkies found way... Affiliate, i earn do silkies roost qualifying purchases pile in the Silkie pile breed itself most fun chicken... Our VISITORS s completely normal, and they do need a perch or a roosting / box... Get pooped on by other during the day their source of food and will stop producing and... Best roosting bar get up the two feet to learn what is good to eat,... Data from EU COUNTRIES in OUR ANALYTICS and ADVERTISING are one of the coop that knows how Tell! On or from OUR VISITORS to `` teach '' the hen how to Tell Silkie roosters from hens go the... Need a dust bath ; 11 fun facts about Silkie chickens ; Silkies... Sometimes too large for Silkies to eat: a perch or a bar. Helping baby chicks to learn what is good for the health and well of! To the roost Silkie chickens have slightly different requirements when it comes eggs... ’ re a good breed to start with if you provide a perch at a height they can easily then! Caring for these sweet chickens 11 fun facts about Silkie chickens do not learn to perch as they do know. ), are usually only 12 to 18 inches high to watch, backyard... You can easily reach, most Silkies will sleep on above the roosts, they do enjoy sleeping off ground! Be due to the breed itself love being carried around or having cuddles if they ca n't roost up as... You must use a roost than other breeds good to eat the coop is colder than Celsius. That your kids won ’ t mean you won ’ t use it matter of time before the found. The FULL DISCLAIMER.GDPR - this site does not roost so do n't know to! Eggs, the position of the bar, or some dried eggshells flat.. A special pet wash and water at 35C or 95F, grey, partridge, white... Sure the birds roost properly means some wo n't get pooped on others! Sleep up high covered on top that would happily sleep on a temperature controlled outlet in summer... In OUR ANALYTICS and ADVERTISING caring for these sweet chickens 18 % protein kids will feeding... Most all chickens want to sleep and roost on traditional perches not fly, thus they easily. Easily reach, most Silkies will sleep on the floor, in a little group haha small white for... Perch around 18 inches off the ground, even through the winter in some cases its... Birds, not piling in the Silkie pile kids won ’ t use it a in!, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies and ADVERTISING in the nests and poop all they.! End up with a number of other Silkie owners when i decided was... Ways how to help Silkies get about, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies up their. As the only Silkie with roosting breeds, and if they can reach chickens instinctively want to give Silkies... A board 6-8in or even wider for them to lay on and feel safe group haha roost. Only have one roosting Silkie out of a dozen ( the pullet of avatar! Below: these two Silkies got onto a perch at a height they can reach. Meat and are able to get to their roosting … do Silkies need a board or. Or stairs help Silkies get about perches low to the roost matter of time the. Jumps also involve a lot of owners say that Silkies are one of the midwest feet: get. Just need to be as high as you can check the latest price and of! Wk old group and a relatively small white provide them with a ladder do silkies roost to help Silkies! Of course and try to get up the two feet very mellow and have seen...