Ready to go outside overnight?

[cottonwallaby]

Hi all
My four little six week old babies are outside during the day. I'm not sure if they are ready to leave the comfort of my office overnight though. They still have some downy bits on their fronts and heads. I am in Australia and we are heading into Spring. The overnight minimum this week is forecast to be 12 degrees (about 50 fahrenheit). Do you think they would be ok? They have a wooden hen house and they are there during the day, but it's been lovely and warm.
Thank you

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi,

I would suggest that they are old enough to fend for themselves overnight. I let my surrogate mother hen hatch my eggs and she takes them to the main roost (i.e. she no longer keeps them warm) before they are 6 weeks old. I live in Nairobi, Kenya but the mother hen did this during our cold season (nighttime temps around the same as you have there right now).

 

[cottonwallaby]

Thanks CTKen!

 

[Pork Pie]

Your are most welcome!!

 

[aart]

As long as they are protected from any drafts, they should be fine.
I make my chicks a 'huddle box' when I take away the heat.
Cardboard box with lid on, just a bit bigger than the space they need to cuddle with a large entrance hole in one side and filled with some pine shavings.
Will block drafts, contain their body heat and they feel safe in their little 'cave'.