We're fairly new to chickens; ours are 12 weeks old, but I'd be afraid to keep them too comfortable. They need to be able to adapt to the weather because what if the light burns out or the power goes out? Then you're really in trouble. The 3 bantys I adopted a couple weeks ago have lived outside for years with very little care. The guy had 8 others that he couldn't catch, roaming the field by his house. I guess my feeling is if those chickens can make it, then the ones in an unheated but sheltered area should be just fine. I am keeping the bantys in my garage for now in a big cage until I can get a coop built. The other 16 are in a coop already built in an insulated garage/barn and doing well, although it's only gotten down to 20 here so far.
