Bantam naked neck showgirl silkie in winter

[Es_In_Miami]

Help! I have a lovely little bantam showgirl silkie, Bella Lugosi is her name. We are in WNC and it's getting colder. I'm worried the weather may be too cold for her. Or has she gone broody?

The History:
I moved my flock from Miami about 5 weeks ago. The crew consists of 15 hens and one massive turkey sized rescue rooster. When the temps started dropping I'd find Bella and Skittles (bantam Houdan) under Igor's massive wings (I kid you not). Yesterday the temps dropped to the low 20s. Bella opted for the smallest nesting box. She ate, drank and was out for a bit as there were 7 eggs under her this afternoon. None were hers. Tonight she's in the nest again hiding her bare neck. Is she at risk due to her size and having fewer feathers than the a regular silkie?

Coop is a shed 8x10, good ventilation. No draft unless the door is open. Should I build a smaller shelter within the coop? Am I needlessly stressing?

 

[cavemanrich]

All your chickens are probably cold, or somewhat coooool. They came from a warm climate just a short time ago. They did not grow the winter style down, needed for cooler areas. Can I suggest you increase their protein in their diet. Protein aids in quicker feather growth. Down is feather growth.
But all is not Armageddon yet. Your area, Western N Carolina, I am assuming, is just going thru a temporary cold snap. You don't get severe winters like further north.
Much of the southeastern states have been subjected to a cold snap recently. Florida has had frost in certain areas as well.
All this will pass, and winter will be relatively mild as usual for that zone.

Just let Bella sleep in the nesting box. Maybe she is cold, or going broody???

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Es_In_Miami]

All your chickens are probably cold, or somewhat coooool. They came from a warm climate just a short time ago. They did not grow the winter style down, needed for cooler areas. Can I suggest you increase their protein in their diet. Protein aids in quicker feather growth. Down is feather growth.
But all is not Armageddon yet. Your area, Western N Carolina, I am assuming, is just going thru a temporary cold snap. You don't get severe winters like further north.
Much of the southeastern states have been subjected to a cold snap recently. Florida has had frost in certain areas as well.
All this will pass, and winter will be relatively mild as usual for that zone.

Just let Bella sleep in the nesting box. Maybe she is cold, or going broody???

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

All your chickens are probably cold, or somewhat coooool. They came from a warm climate just a short time ago. They did not grow the winter style down, needed for cooler areas. Can I suggest you increase their protein in their diet. Protein aids in quicker feather growth. Down is feather growth.
But all is not Armageddon yet. Your area, Western N Carolina, I am assuming, is just going thru a temporary cold snap. You don't get severe winters like further north.
Much of the southeastern states have been subjected to a cold snap recently. Florida has had frost in certain areas as well.
All this will pass, and winter will be relatively mild as usual for that zone.

Just let Bella sleep in the nesting box. Maybe she is cold, or going broody???

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks I am totally needlessly stressing. She is broody. The coop is toasty (in chicken terms) and all the girls are laying. I'll have to get her a chicken sweater for the pure love of fashion LOL

 

[Es_In_Miami]

Thanks I am totally needlessly stressing. She is broody. The coop is toasty (in chicken terms) and all the girls are laying. I'll have to get her a chicken sweater for the pure love of fashion LOL

And thank you, yes, I increased their protein.