Silkie and Weather
Hardy, just not an ornament
Because of their appearance, Silkies are often misunderstood as "delicate" birds, meant only to be ornamental. In reality, they are hardier than they look.
Many people assume that Silkies will collapse at the first sign of cold weather. However, they can handle just as much cold as any other chicken breed.
Silkies have smaller combs than many other breeds, which makes them less susceptible to frostbite.
Due to their fur-like feathers, Silkies are mainly sensitive to wind. A wet Silkie in windy weather can actually become very sick. In fact, Silkies are better at handling cold than heat, making them more susceptible to heatstroke.
My experience: One winter, my chickens were outside in -20°C with no issues. I did have the heat lamp on in the coop, but I've never seen my Silkies show signs of being cold—they actually seem to enjoy the warmth from the lamp. In contrast, during the hottest part of the summer, they struggled: panting and lifting their wings to cool down. I only turn on the heat lamp when temperatures drop below -10°C, as even hardy chickens can get sick if they aren't accustomed to extreme cold.
