the sebastols are the only ones that have ever tempted me, I agree, they are beautiful!
Guess what? that little chick, with just wing feathers and a teeny tail, all down everywhere else, not only survived low 30's, it found its way back to the run too! THe mama hens kept their babies in til it warmed up, so the little lone chick was screeching and running all over for a few hours. The other hens ignored it, but one hen did follow it everywhere but didn't get close.
Mama seemed happy to see her chick, so they re-united just fine.
And she made sure all her babies made it back into the coop even though it took 5 tries before that silly chick followed her in. THe other broody hen tried again to convince her chicks to fly up to the roost that is about 6 feet off the ground - they refused. I finally pulled her off the roost and put her in with her babies, who beelined under her to get warm.
So, Amelia, the first time broody that hatched the one dead chick, decided to get off the nest today (day 22). She was pacing so I let her out, and her eggs were still warm so I popped them under another broody who was sitting on nothing. Amelia spent the day outside, but at roost time she flew back into the cupboard broody pen. Back sitting on the empty nest. I think I will see if I can break her of her broodiness - the two eggs I gave to the other broody were kicked out of the nest, one broken and nothing had developed.
So y'all were right, better days were ahead.