Cold snap

[Carters Chick House]

HI all..this will be my first winter with chickens. We are due for a cold snap with temperatures at 1 degrees. 11 of my birds are heavy bodied and should be fine. I have one bantam hen that sleeps in the rafters by herself. Will she be okay?

 

[cavemanrich]

I would take the Bantie in for the night. Then return back to coop during day. Avoid bringing into too warm of a place. If you have a utility room,, garage,, or somewhere where the temps is around 30 to 40 degrees F. Place her into a pet carrier, on some hay, or other soft bedding. She will be fine when you turn off the lights. Make sure that she eats some scratch before going nity-nite.
I have currently 4 banties. (2 Seramas, and 2 American game hens.) Plus one Japanese bantam, and 3 large fowl hens. The temps are going down very low this week. My 4 banties are already in their winter housing inside garage loft. The other 4 will join them probably by Wednesday. I do keep a wood stove burning during winter cold days. I only try to maintain a temperature around 32°F.
I have been keeping Bantams for many years now. They do not tolerate very cold conditions all that well.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Thank you @cavemanrich. Hearing your experience helps when we are unsure which way to go... there are so many well-meaning people advocating no heat, it is helpful to have someone explain some of the factors involved in making a decision.

My girls are bantam so that might be part of why I believe in their little heat lamps

They are clearly in pain from the cold. It isn't just uncomfortable, they huddle and stop eating.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Thank you @cavemanrich. Hearing your experience helps when we are unsure which way to go... there are so many well-meaning people advocating no heat, it is helpful to have someone explain some of the factors involved in making a decision.

My girls are bantam so that might be part of why I believe in their little heat lamps

They are clearly in pain from the cold. It isn't just uncomfortable, they huddle and stop eating.

i hand feed my chickens when its so cold they dont move. i literally crawl under the henhouse with them and use my sweetest voice and offer them their feed mixed with warm water and maybe a little oatmeal. The goal is to get them to eat something. This is effective and after about 5-10 minutes they start pokin' around and doin' what chickens do, lol. Good luck to you!