Modern English Game Bantams in cold weather?

[mountaintopchicken]

I have been looking into Modern English Game bantams a bit lately, and I've read on the BYC breed descriptions and on one breeders website that they can't take temps of less than 35 degrees.

This really surprised me - I thought the only birds that had temp requirements like this were Seramas and possibly Silkies.

Does anyone keep these in cold climates?

Is supplementary heat necessary to keep them?

My idea was to set up small breeding coops in the form of chicken tractors in my garden. I could move them about the garden to have them work my small beds (small active birds in my small beds seems like a good combo). But their temp requirements might make me rethink this.

 

[cgmccary]

I had Bantam OEGs growing up & have 1 OEG hen right now. While I live in Alabama and our coldest nights in the winter are about 10-15 F, we have quite a few days we are below freezing. My OEG hen roosts in a tree outside & seems to fare just fine in the raw elements (and she is at least 4-5 years old). She has also hatched chicks outside and kept them warm on days below freezing. None of my OEGs growing up ever had additional heat. I have always found them to be very tough little birds. Just my experience.

 

[cgmccary]

Oh sorry just noticed you said "Modern . . ." my bad-- yes, they may be a bit more fragile!

 

[mountaintopchicken]

Thanks cgmccary - if I find that I can't keep moderns, I may have to switch my plans over to oeg bantams. I live in Vermont on the top of a mountain, and the temps and conditions are so ridiculous is our microclimate I don't even want to begin to describe them!

I have been drooling over the idea of birchen moderns running about in my garden, but it seems that hardy little oeg will be more practical in the long run.