Bantams and cold winters

[CARS]

I have had chickens for about 5 years and know from experience that large comb birds can handle the cold temps, but frost bite on the combs is common. I have since selected my birds the last couple years to have small combs and cold hardy.

But, I would like to use banties to hatch some eggs for me. Silkies are by far my favorite and from what I read, awesome setters.

So, can the little gals take -30F ??? Draft free, ventilated, but gets dang cold here from time to time

 

[newdock]

I have banties including a couple of white silkies and they seem to make out just fine up here with the -30 degree weather. Mind you, I have them in an insulated hen house with a heat lamp for when the temps drop below about -10. I have found that the only problems with the cold temps have been my birds with large single combs - they suffer frostbite as you say.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

We've had silkies for a few years now and they do just fine. Last year we had -35 for two weeks straight.