Transitioning to Outside without a bulb?

[ButtermilkMama]

I'm feeling stuck. My four Buff Orp girls are eight weeks now. They're in a large dog crate in the house at room temperature and go out in the back yard on warmer days. How can I transition them to coop life and outdoor nights without a bulb? What is a safe nighttime low temperature for them to be sleeping outside? The coop is 4x4x3 with a slant roof, so I'm not sure how I would hang a bulb inside anyway, though I haven't tried yet. There will be a puppy visiting all next week so I can't run a cord out there for another week. I would like to move the chicks out next weekend, so on Mayday, but do you think it should be with a bulb? Lows are still getting down to 40 degrees, so I'm guessing that's a big no go without a bulb at this point.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are not in a draft at night, they should be fine at that age and those temperatures. They should be fully feathered out.

 

[felidaet]

I agree that they should be fine to more outside now as long as their coop is not drafty.

 

[loopy12]

I think they should be ok. Once they are fully feathered they can go out during the day for sure and since there's 4 of them they will snuggle together at night, probably sleeping in the nest box. Put extra straw in there to help insulate them.

 

[ButtermilkMama]

Thanks! Since their coop and run are nearly ready for occupation, I think I will put them outside all day for a while and still keep them in at night until I fell they are 'hardened off' like seedlings. They huddle when they're out during the day at 50 degrees, so I'm a little paranoid about cold nights.

 

[BigBadCryBaby]

No worries, just wean them off the lamp for a day or two. Make sure you've got adequate straw, they know how to keep themselves warm. 8 weeks is puhlenty.