Minimum Temp for young birds

[Little Bear Game Farm]

I was just wondering what the coldest temps have been that anyone has put 6 week old, 8 week old chukars and pheasants outside?  I'm thinking about trying artificial lighting chukars next winter for early birds and trying to figure how soon to start the process.  I plan on having a big enough brooder house to be able to raise 200 birds for about 6 weeks.  I put a small batch of chukars outside this year at 6 weeks old, mid-April with a couple heat lamps on the enclosed end of the flight pen and they were fine.  We have had a pretty mild spring though with lows only in the 30's. 

Thanks!

[Nate F.]

These birds seem pretty tough.  I haven't had experience with young birds in the cold, but my adults were still going outside on their own accord in -25 degree celcius weather.

[fstxrico]

I hatched adout 40 chukar last year in mid september and had them out by thanksgiving. In upstate New York that equates to low 20's - mid teens at night and highs in the upper20's- low 30's and they seemed happy enough. We trained on them all winter and still have a few running around.
Hope you can maybe use my late experience to formulate your early spring plan.