Keeping bantams over winter in NH

[chicken pickin]

I was hoping some bantam owners may have a few tips to share on keeping bantams(I have Japanese bantams) over winter. I want to keep them safe from the winter elements but our cold temps snow and ice make me think I should have avoided bantams. They will be in a secure weather proof house with a fully covered run and will be housing with a few Marans. I have 4 bantams now but will be rehoming 2 of the boys. I should end up with 2 bantams and 2-3 marans in the house. Thanks for any advice.

 

[countrygoddess]

I'm in Vermont and had several bantams in with some EEs. I never did a thing differently for the bantams and they've done fine for years. Many of the EEs have died, lots of the bantams have been snatched by predators, but the ones that are left wander our yard all day long and go to bed in an unheated house at night. In the winter, I have a bulb in there to extend their day only, not to heat the house. I keep drafts out, I keep their water thawed, and that's all they need.

 

[chicken pickin]

Thank you. Thats what I was thinking also, just doing the same as I wouild for the large chickens. But they are so tiny Im just a little nervous I may accidentally freeze them to death.

 

[chicken pickin]

So the Bantam Chicks are a month older now and doing well. They are almost 14 weeks but they are tiny, only the size of my almost 7 week old Marans chicks. Tonight is going to be a low of 27 degrees. There are 4 Japanese Bantams in the coop right now, no large fowl. Should I add heat or will they do ok? I was wondering also if using the heat lamp on some nights when the temp drops in the 20s then turning lamp off for nights in the 30s will that affect them becasue there would be light in the coop on some nights and then dark in the coop on other nights?

 

[NYREDS]

There are pleanty of bantams in New Hampshire, they'll be fine. It gets pretty cold here in upstate NY too & the bantams handle it just as well as the large fowl do. Infact, right now, all I'm getting are bantam eggs. None of the large fowl are laying.

 

[countrygoddess]

Yes, they'll do fine. =) My bantams cruise the yard and these past few days have been in the 20's when we get up and never get over mid- to hi-30's. Those tiny birds STILL insist on cruising yard, even though they have to stop to puff up every once in a while. They like hanging out on the porch (yuck) and in the garage to get out of the cold breeze, but they're doing just fine. Your 14 wk olds sound like they're about full-size-ish. My two Golden Sebright girls are about the size of city pigeons.

 

[mg15]

Dottie a Japanese Bantam. It was cold is it possible this was caused by the cold.

 

[countrygoddess]

How cold was it and for how long? Where are you?

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Looks like pox or frostbite.. Good luck