Open Contest BYC Poultry Caption Contest Photo Submission - Thread #12

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Larry Barred Rock hen Oct 2023
Practicing her camouflage technique

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So this will be our first winter, and Poppy's only companions are two Pekins. I did get some reassurance from BYC that she would be fine. She doesn't have tons of down, but her legs are feathered enough to look like pants, and her comb is on the smaller side (no wattles either) to minimize frostbite. I'm on the fence with giving them a small amount of heat overhead, like one of those chick heating pads meant for brooding. Nothing that would change the overall temp of the coop, but something to take the edge off.

She is the only bantam that I would trust free ranging. The Pekins couldn't outrun a vole, but Poppy is a little roadrunner with big flight capacity. Someone said their d'Uccle cleared the roof of their house! I will say she's done really well living in confinement (so far, knock on wood). The breed has a really nice disposition! Very friendly.

Edited to add: We're zone 5. Temps can get down to -20F on a bad night, but my coop and run are weather/wind protected, and I have a basement brooder the bantams can use if things get too rough. I'm very nervous and want them to do well!

My OEGB bantams were fine last winter, they did like to hang out under the Sweeter Heater and the IR heat lamps though. The wee hen I brought into my heated feedroom at night though.

I think your wee d’Uccle should be fine, she is quite fluffy, not like my OEGBs who have feathers very tight to their body, no insulative value at all. My silkies where ok (as long as no wind), they are quite fluffy, in-fact the heat and humidity really bothers them.

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Now what's so interesting in there Betty? Fluffy wants to know...


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So this will be our first winter, and Poppy's only companions are two Pekins. I did get some reassurance from BYC that she would be fine. She doesn't have tons of down, but her legs are feathered enough to look like pants, and her comb is on the smaller side (no wattles either) to minimize frostbite. I'm on the fence with giving them a small amount of heat overhead, like one of those chick heating pads meant for brooding. Nothing that would change the overall temp of the coop, but something to take the edge off.

She is the only bantam that I would trust free ranging. The Pekins couldn't outrun a vole, but Poppy is a little roadrunner with big flight capacity. Someone said their d'Uccle cleared the roof of their house! I will say she's done really well living in confinement (so far, knock on wood). The breed has a really nice disposition! Very friendly.

Edited to add: We're zone 5. Temps can get down to -20F on a bad night, but my coop and run are weather/wind protected, and I have a basement brooder the bantams can use if things get too rough. I'm very nervous and want them to do well!

These ladies thought they would follow my uncle to the house

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That’s my white silkie Fluffy at the back there, snow doesn’t bother her too much.
 
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These ladies thought they would follow my uncle to the house

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That’s my white silkie Fluffy at the back there, snow doesn’t bother her too much.
FLUFFY!! This is too adorable! Ugh, why do chickens have to be so cute. Someone I follow on IG has bantams (including d'Uccles) up in Canada, so I'm feeling pretty confident.
 

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