How cold is too cold?

put the heat lamp on in the coop, then wean them off it

 

If you're talking about letting your chicks outdoors during the day, you can just observe them. When they're too cold, they'll peep loudly in that unmistakeable way they do. That's their cue to their mother hen (in your case, you) to warm them up.

 

I have my 8 week old chicks outside and there are only 3 of them. If they are cold they huddle. So put them out during the day and back in at night. At least your house will air out for a few hours.

 

in vermont, I kicked my 5 week old Sex links out of the brooder and into the 'big girl coop'. They have a smallish cat carrier that they all pile into at night to stay extra warm (and safe from any pecking from the big hens)... it's been in the 40s at night, and they are all totally fine and happy. in and out all day, even in the drizzly rain!

 

One thing you can do to is borrow a rabbit hutch from a friend or get one through craig's list. One with an enclosed sleeping area, reinforced with hardware cloth.
You could add heat with a lamp & extension cord for night time.
They are out of the house but can sill be kept close to the house, righ outside the door!
Perfect set up for 9 silkies.

Brenda

 

My chicks are 6 weeks old, and were just moved outside without a heat lamp. At night it's in the low fifties, and in the 60's during the day. That's unusually cool for us. But they're doing great!

 

I don't know why silkies would be any different from other chickens. If they've been weaned slowly off their heat lamp, they shouldn't need heat past 6 weeks or so. The rule is 90-95 degrees the first week, decreasing by 5 degrees a week until you get down to 70 degrees (week 5). After that they should be okay without heat unless it's wet, damp or below freezing.