Thanks! I wouldn't mind having a few babies inside for a bit so maybe that's what I'll do.

We'll see what the weather is like in 3 weeks when they arrive.
our bantam frizzle hatched 4 of 6 eggs in a hard frost, of the last 2 eggs, one died hatching and 1 in the shell when she left the eggs to keep the 4 chicks warm as they fed, this was about 36hrs after the 1st hatch.
any chicks you take inside will get left behind. you cannot rear chicks as well as a hen. our chicks were going outside at 5 days old, 2 days younger than our summer hatch and they went out into a still hard frost. they spent a few hrs out there the 1st day, and all day ever since.
just a thought, but will a mother accept or look after chicks that havent been part of her hatch (unless tricked into it as really young hatchlings). most young chickens advertised here in france as being able to go outside on their own and not requiring heat are usually several weeks old.
i have seen our 4 chicks sitting in a tight group when mums been off doing her own thing on occasion, wouldnt too many chicks as they get a bit older move within their group if they were cold at night, and wouldnt they help keep themselves warm?
i have never hand reared chicks so cant advise on the work thats really involved
we still seeing ice cold days but all chicks at a month old are doing well outside mostly doing their own thing although within safe distance of mum. they are large fowl,