When can my chicks graduate to outdoors?

[The Backyard Bantams]

Hi!

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I spontaneously got 7 chicks. I got them from a slightly sketchy guy....he lied about the price and colouring........but that's way too long to put here.

For the whole crazy story that will give some context; https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...i-got-my-fuzzy-nuggets.1406574/#post-23088597

So anyway, I have 4 non-bearded silkies, about 3 1/2 weeks, plus a lavender aracuana, and 2 easter egger girls, 5 weeks. It's late winter here, days are "cold", but not cold, cold. Definitely too cold for chicks now. Lows are like 5 degrees C (41 F) and highs up to 15 degrees (59 F)

So........I'll wait until the silkie bubs are completely ready....I have no problem with them being inside, but my family complains about the smell. I'm thinking of keeping one or two of the silkies as a partial house chicken (maybe sleeps inside in a small coop, supervised roaming of house and cuddles with a diaper, outside small coop when I'm busy)

I have a small flock of 4 bantams, they have a medium (12sqm) run in the garden, a small coop, and occasional free-ranging. We have a small (1.6m x 70cm) sort of coop/run for the babies to live in until they are big enough to move in with the adults. It has a roof and is also undercover. It is sheltered on 1 side and has a small inner coop. The temps will warm up a bit, but not significantly. If it is still cold in 2-3 weeks, we might be able to set up an infra-red heat lamp in the coop or run, to keep them warmer.

So.........when do you think they should move outside? I'd rather do it sooner than later, to keep them safe and comfy!

Thanks!

 

[M-H-Fielding]

As long as the coup is warm and they have all their feathers, I would say they would be fine outside. Some of my pullets lived outside before they had all their feathers, but that was during warm summer months.
Most poultry raisers I know say they are ready to live outside shortly after they have all their feathers.
I hope this info has been helpful!

 

[The Backyard Bantams]

It might be harder to tell with the silkies........I'll wait 6-8 weeks I think.

 

[Tonyroo]

If you keep them inside and don't want them to stink as bad, pick up there poop everyday in there brooder or whenever you see it during the day. Make sure you throw there poop in the garden, extra fertilizer for your plants. And crack a window for air flow.

 

[NatJ]

If you can put heat in the outdoor coop, you can move them out.

Some people brood chicks in outdoor coops, sheds, barns, garages from the very first day. It's just a matter of getting the temperature right.

Your outdoor temperatures are really not that cold (compared with winter in many parts of the USA, which is where I live.)

 

[The Backyard Bantams]

We just got a HUGE box!!!! One of the ones they put watermelons or pumpkins in. it's like 1.5 m x 1.5 m! It's bigger than their teenage coop! I think they'll love it and it'll smell less, so they can spend more time inside!