Many silkie folks have observed and reported that their silkies don't roost, as a matter of fact, they even hate ramps. Well, mine have shown the contrary. Here are some pics to illustrate my quirky little fellas, who DO like to roost at night with the big boys and girls. All these Silkies were my trial order breed from 2 different hatcheries. I have some breeder silkie eggs in the incubator, I'm eager to see the difference in quality. These silkies are only 4 months old, so they have a lot of growing to do.
This is the view from the door, into the chicken coop, with the different level rungs for roosting. The most dominant birds sleep on the top. And the lower levels sleep the subordinate birds.
However, I do notice also, that not all the birds sleep according to their rank in the flock. It isn't a hard and fast rule. The gold partridge silkie next to Smokey the blue cochin bantam cockerel is bottom of the social order, but she is at the top, snoozing next to the top of the flock, Smokey. Some of those silkies sleeping at the top rung are also low on the social ranking, so it seems that they are allowed up sometimes.
The birds sleep even with my white light on, I'm leaving the light on, to provide more artificial light for 14 hours, to sustain egg production through winter. All my hens are still laying, even though we're fast approaching mid Dec. I'm so proud of them.
Mixed up flock, from left, Goldie, frizzled gold Cochin pullet, buff orp pullet, silkies and Cochins.
Ashley chilliing on the 3rd rung, and then slowly moved up later to the top, next to Smokey. Not shown on pic.
Black silkie baby, hopping his way up the rungs.
A bunch of multi colored silkie, looks like a United Colors of Benetton advert.
I have to add though, the silkies are always the first birds every evening, to go into the chicken coop. Its like a first come first serve basis on the perches, until someone higher on the rank, shoves them down to the lower level.
I love all my silkies, and all my birds. The Cochins and silkies are my fav breeds right now.
This is the view from the door, into the chicken coop, with the different level rungs for roosting. The most dominant birds sleep on the top. And the lower levels sleep the subordinate birds.
However, I do notice also, that not all the birds sleep according to their rank in the flock. It isn't a hard and fast rule. The gold partridge silkie next to Smokey the blue cochin bantam cockerel is bottom of the social order, but she is at the top, snoozing next to the top of the flock, Smokey. Some of those silkies sleeping at the top rung are also low on the social ranking, so it seems that they are allowed up sometimes.
The birds sleep even with my white light on, I'm leaving the light on, to provide more artificial light for 14 hours, to sustain egg production through winter. All my hens are still laying, even though we're fast approaching mid Dec. I'm so proud of them.
Mixed up flock, from left, Goldie, frizzled gold Cochin pullet, buff orp pullet, silkies and Cochins.
Ashley chilliing on the 3rd rung, and then slowly moved up later to the top, next to Smokey. Not shown on pic.
Black silkie baby, hopping his way up the rungs.
A bunch of multi colored silkie, looks like a United Colors of Benetton advert.
I have to add though, the silkies are always the first birds every evening, to go into the chicken coop. Its like a first come first serve basis on the perches, until someone higher on the rank, shoves them down to the lower level.
I love all my silkies, and all my birds. The Cochins and silkies are my fav breeds right now.
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