[Prod]

Hopefully this question is not as daft as it sounds. I have kept large fowl for some years and they are well used to the extreme weather up here in the Brecon hills but this year I started keeping bantams, silkies, polish and sablepoots.   At the first sign of bad weather the sablepoots head for their coops but the others just stand there, even though I provide shelter.  Today the weather has been appalling and  my field is turning to mud, not nice. SO.....  my question is: would it be cruel to 'overwinter' the bantams indoors.  I have a very large shed with natural light where I already bring the growers on. I can build some temporary coop/cages so each group of no more than four would have up to 2 sq mtrs. They would face windows which are all along one side and on good dry days I could let themback out to free range.    Any thoughts??

[New shoot]

My bantams would love that    I have often remarked to OH, that if we had a barn, they wouldn't bother with outdoors for most of the winter 

[Beekissed]

If they just stand there, that means they prefer to be outdoors in the cold, mucky weather, whereas the sablepoots do not, so they seek shelter.  Bantams are no different than LF in that respect, just a smaller size.  They develop the same winter feathering and such to maintain body warmth, just in a smaller package.  True bantams are among the hardiest of chickens and are able to maintain good health and well being during winter months even better than many LF breeds. 

I'd not put them indoors for the winter, but let them choose.  As long as they have good shelter in which to be and can access it easily, it's just healthier for them to be outdoors. 

It's much like horses...some prefer to be in a stable or barn in bad weather, some prefer to be out in it.  It's better to have a system wherein they can choose.  I wouldn't make the mistake in thinking that, just because they are smaller, they are more delicate in any way. 

[Prod]

Hi thanks for your advice. I wasn't assuming they are not as hardy it is just, like today, the weather is appalling and we are 1500ft up in the hills. My field is quite exposed on 2 sides, which is where the wind and rain come from, and the red clay soil just turns to gloop.  I might just move them to the top of the field where there is more shelter and section it off. It is still a good size for the number I have.  I just feel so sorry for them, especially the polish with their mop heads all wet and muddy!!!!

[grinling]

Mine head under the fig bush or under the bamboo.  How do you cope with  the freezing water?

[Beekissed]

You might try giving them a deep litter in their run or at least around the coop to keep them out of the mud.  Provides something to do, keeps the ground more absorptive, and gives them cleaner footing.  Maybe even a stump or two out of the wind so they can get up and off the ground is always nice.  Hay or straw bales are good for that too. 

Maybe a pic or two of where they are living would give us a better picture of the dilemma. 

[danfinn1]

I am gathering up all the leaves here, as we have large trees on one side, next to the canal, and am using these to cover the area by the eglu to help with the mud. I suppose this is deep litter. My three do enjoy it when let out each afternoon, scratching about in the deep leaf carpet, and it makes good use of same. That is of course when they are not perching on one of our garden benches.