Keeping Mom and 3 chicks in kitchen until Spring?

[mkatz131]

We just had 3 Silkie eggs hatch from a first time broody hen. When we realized (NE PA) that she was sitting on a clutch out in the chicken barn, we brought Mama, and the 3 eggs into the house and set them up with some litter in an old dog corral. It is below freezing here now and I'm thinking we will have to keep the family in the kitchen until Spring. Can I return Mama to the outdoors after 6 weeks in the warm kitchen and put chicks under a brooder lamp? The outdoor setup has no way to separate them from the rest of the flock. At what age can the baby chicks join to rest of the flock? Thanks.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I think it would be okay to take the momma out after the babies are big enough to take care of themselves. Or you can wait until the momma kind of "kicks" them out of the nest, so to speak.