The little bantam we have that looks like a sebright mix does not seem to like the cold weather at all. I'm assuming sebrights arn't hardy winter birds? She hunkers down and her little comb turns dark red or purple on the tips. What can we do to keep her comfortable in the cold?
I'm assuming sebright bantams arn't hardy in winter?
I have sebrights, they stay in a chicken house that is draft free and has a heat lamp at night, make sure he has plenty of hay and roosts. All mine roost with the rest of guineas and chickens.
I've had sebrights in Alaska, but I have a hen house heated to 50F. I've always used an electric heater under their water fount so it doesn't freeze, although it's frozen on one side before and I had to close and hook and latch their outside little door that year for a week. It was a very cold winter, got down to 20F below and I didn't realize the fount was freezing along the sides and not letting the water/air replacement action to take place. It only happened once and they weren't out of water for more than half a day. That was the winter I found that when you lock them up, a bag of dry leaves occupied them just fine in that enclosed space. Before their present palace I had a small insulated 4' by 8' building with same heated water fount and a100watt incandescant bulb. (Bulb I had to surround with a milk crate 'cause they always were flapping into it going up to their roost.) I found their own body heat was sufficient in that small a place. I did notice they were warmer with about 20 hens than a lesser number. As to sebrights or other clean legged and single combed birds, I would shy away from them in my cold climate. A rose comb and feather legged breed is perfect up here. (I've had my silver sebright for 7 years now and she hasn't frostbit her comb yet.)
Carol
Though we live in south TX is does get chilly. The last few days its been in the 30's at night and 40's during the day. (and has gotten into the teens previous winters) Seems like when it drops below 70 she/he is fluffed up and just sits and her little comb turns dark. We will have to try the bulb and hay. Thanks!