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Silkies in the rain

 
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wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 16 12:27 pm    Post subject: Silkies in the rain Reply with quote
    

My poor silkies look very bedraggled in today's drizzle. I had an idea they shouldn't get wet as their silly feathers don't have proper waterproofing. Is that right, and if so how do I tell them that? I thought that if they had a nice warm shelter with food and water, they'd stay in it in bad weather, but they seem to prefer to get wet in their usual haunt in the patio. Must I keep them shut in their covered run when it rains? Or am I being exceptionally over protective?

NorthernMonkeyGirl



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4584
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 16 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They may be very stupid or they may be deceptively well-insulated
I would err on the side of stupid! How tame are they? Can you cuddle one and see if it's wet through to the skin or just surface dampness?

chickenlady



Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 16 8:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

When I had an outdoor silkie she used to get sodden - in spite of having a roofed run with dry flooring, she still preferred pottering about in the rain. However, I always made sure she was reasonably dry at bedtime (patting her as dry as possible with a towel). She had a couple of "normal" bantams to cuddle with at night time and I guess they helped her to stay warm.

BahamaMama



Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: Away with the fairies
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 16 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I also had a silkie that had access to a warm, dry house but preferred to potter about in the rain. She was fine and lived to a ripe old age with no pampering or towel drying.

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 16 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

BahamaMama wrote:
I also had a silkie that had access to a warm, dry house but preferred to potter about in the rain. She was fine and lived to a ripe old age with no pampering or towel drying.


Yes, this. Nothing madder than a wet hen and all that. Let them get on with it

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 16 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think they weren't wet through yesterday, and I wasn't hugely concerned as it wasn't cold. I was just thinking of later on in the winter. I'll leave them to it, unless they look miserable. They'll be in the eglu with with few other bantams to dry off on (they all like to sleep in a big pile in the nest box)

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 16 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They're hilarious in the snow. Mine used to try to jump from bush to bush rather than get their socks wet.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 16 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mine refuse to go out in the snow at all.

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