Can I put my silkie outside yet? Can someone sex? It started out ill and has had slowed feather gro

[DocumentedPure]

I have had my silkie for about 6 weeks now. I got it from IFC. I hope it is warm enough to put her outside. I am new to chickens, I have two 6 week RIR that I am pretty sure I can put out there, however I do not want to separate the flock. I live in Utah, so northern hemisphere. The weather is sometimes as warm as low 70s F but is dropping some nights down to mid thirties F. They have an enclosable outdoor coop. Should I keep them outside during the day then bring them in at night? Does it look like a hen or rooster? Please see my following post a few posts down for more detail.

 

[eggbert420]

They can go out.

 

[DocumentedPure]

Even through the night? Including the silkie?

 

[eggbert420]

As long as they have a coop. If your worried about them use a heat source.

 

[DocumentedPure]

Yes, I am worried about them. That was part of the reason I posted this thread. I am curious about what to do a this point in the silkie's age and apparent growth, whether or not people who are more knowledgeable and experienced than I am with silkie pullets in cold climates specifically, would know whether or not I can put them outside in the coop without a supplementary heat source. Where I live, the temperature drops to mid 30's Fahrenheit at this point in the season. If there are others who have had experiences doing this without causing adverse effects to their health.

My silkie has developed much slower than the other two chickens, who are RIRs. The RIRs have nearly all of their down gone, and the silkie still has a lot to lose. I understand that they have a different style of feather composition genetically, however my silkie appears to have had a slower growth rate than comparative pictures I have seen online from other keepers. By the time I had it, it had crooked toes, which I have read is due to a niacin deficiency. I have increased the niacin in the food supply, and it seems strong, active, alert, and healthy. However I am concerned she may not be prepared for the drop in temperature.

They have all had the heat lamp on the entire time, and only within the last week have they not huddled up when I turn it off. My room is consistently around 70 F.

I think I will set them all outside for a few hours during the day, and if they are still actively moving around and not huddled up I will let them pull an all night sleep over in the big house.

I have two things going through my head, one is the fact that you start chickens off at 100 F, and then take 5 away every week. Well, I have had them six weeks, so that would be 60 F where it is supposed to be. However I think this is probably just the first few weeks then they are fine to withstand cooler temperatures.

The other thing that is going through my mind is that I have read chickens are fairly durable and cold hardy. And that you can leave them in near zero temperatures with the only ill effect being frost bite due to humidity.

I do not want them to be bored out of their minds in the extra large dog kennel they have lived in their whole lives. They could use the extra space and stimulation. But I do not want them to get sick or die either.

So if you, or others, feel comfortable making that decision, or a different decision, I am all ears. I am asking because I do not know.