Mid-Michigan, moving chicks outside

[BlueLineChicks]

First time chicken owner, can I put them outside today and leave them in their outdoor coop overnight without supplemental heat? Or do I need to acclimate them to the outdoors a few hours each day? This weather is killing me…..

8 weeks old, fully feathered, very nice draft free coop, they’ve been raised in the house that is heated to 65° in the spare bedroom, no supplemental heat for the past 3 weeks. Attaching a pic of our 10 day weather forecast and the chicks that are huge and messy and need to move out

 

[DobieLover]

First time chicken owner, can I put them outside today and leave them in their outdoor coop overnight without supplemental heat? Or do I need to acclimate them to the outdoors a few hours each day? This weather is killing me…..

8 weeks old, fully feathered, very nice draft free coop, they’ve been raised in the house that is heated to 65° in the spare bedroom, no supplemental heat for the past 3 weeks. Attaching a pic of our 10 day weather forecast and the chicks that are huge and messy and need to move out

I wouldn't hesitate to move them out now.
You can put a huddle box in the coop with them but I doubt they'll use it.

 

[Soopermum]

I live in Mid-Michigan and put my 8-9 week old babies out a week ago Sunday, but kept them locked in the coop until this weekend due to the temperatures. We do have heat in our coop. The babies have been doing fine. BTW they love going in and out and perching on the windbreak/tunnel we have set up for the door.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I wouldn't hesitate to move them out now.
You can put a huddle box in the coop with them but I doubt they'll use it.

As self explanatory as a huddle box is, what would be suitable and is it heated or just relying on flock body heat? Thx

 

[DobieLover]

As self explanatory as a huddle box is, what would be suitable and is it heated or just relying on flock body heat? Thx

The birds go into the box laying on it's side with the top flap still there and the sides and bottom removed and lots of fluffy bedding in the box and tucked into a draft free corner of the coop. The birds body heat gets trapped in there and they stay warm.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

The birds go into the box laying on it's side with the top flap still there and the sides and bottom removed and lots of fluffy bedding in the box and tucked into a draft free corner of the coop. The birds body heat gets trapped in there and they stay warm.

Ah! Got it, thx!

 

[3KillerBs]

Here is a photo of my current huddle box:

I've given every batch a huddle box in the brooder and in the integration pen. Some use it, some don't.