[Merseycat]

Just before Christmas, one of my silkies decided to go broody so a put a couple of eggs from my sons hens under her. She hatched one chick during the worst of the cold weather.
I moved them into a small pen in my garage for warmth. Chick is now over 3 weeks old and full of vim and viggor. My question is; when should I move them back outside. The weather at present is about 10degreesC. I only have the two adult silkies and I would like to intergrate them all asap.

Any help would be appreciated.

[jinty1911]

Think this is another question for Joyful 

If you check back a few days ago I asked a question about mum and chicks to which Joyful kindly replied. Might help.

[bantam novice]

Welcome to the forum and the wacky world of henaholcs 
We love to see pictures here if you can post them

[joyfull]

keep the chick with her (it will stay with her for about 8 - 10 weeks), try moving the coop outside now (the chick will huddle underneath her if it gets cold) but if the snow comes back (and I have been told today the weather is due to get colder again next week) you can always move them back in again but hopefully they should be ok. Let the other silkie see her old mate and the chick as this will help with the integration. Mum will let you know when she has had enough and want to go back and her chick will follow her to the original coop  .
Welcome by the way, I hope you will like being with us and look forward to seeing any pictures of your new chick and the two older ones 

[Merseycat]

Many thanks for your help and for the welcome. I shall try this and let you know how I go on. Can you suggest when I could move the chick in with my sons 6 warrens. She will stay with the two Silkies until old enough to be intergrated.

I have attached a couple of pics for you.

Thanks once again.

[noshed]

What lovely pics

[bantam novice]

Cute Chick! 

[jinty1911]

AAwwwww it's lovely   

[joyfull]

what breed of chicken is the chick?
I wouldn't integrate just one new chick with your sons 6 warrens as the pecking order sorting could be too stressful - all 6 would gang up on her. Also I wouldn't try the integration until she is big enough to hold her own so you may have to wait until she is 20+ weeks old and by this time she will be happy with your girls. When she is about 10 weeks get her a friend of around the same size and age then let them be moved in a coop and run close to your sons girls, gradually moving them closer. Remember though that the new chicken to go with yours will need to be quarantined first.

[Merseycat]

Thanks for the lovely comments. I've not heard of quaranting before - what does that entail? The chick is a cross between a warren and the cockerel I have pictured below.

Thanks for all the help.

[alancane]

Great pictures.... I think I want to get some eggs... oh no, I have gone broody!

[jinty1911]

Great pictures.... I think I want to get some eggs... oh no, I have gone broody!

Ha Ha Join the flock!!!   

[alancane]

I thought for the last year I had managed to avoid the temptation... and then BAM!
I don't fancy sitting on ice cubes to cool me down, any other suggestions?

[jinty1911]

Oh yeah!!! Get some hatching eggs!!!!     

[alancane]

Oh yeah!!! Get some hatching eggs!!!!