3 weeks okay to go outside

[corthendo]

Every little thing I do I’m afraid I’m going to kill my baby chicks. Idk if it’s just because I’m an anxious person or because I feel like I have no clue what I’m doing. I took my chicks out for a field trip outside. Gave them grit for the first time and they are eating the grass. It feels pretty hot outside my phone says 65 but it feels way hotter than that. They are having a lot of fun but will randomly lay on their sides. How long should they stay out?

 

[janiedoe]

Every little thing I do I’m afraid I’m going to kill my baby chicks. Idk if it’s just because I’m an anxious person or because I feel like I have no clue what I’m doing. I took my chicks out for a field trip outside. Gave them grit for the first time and they are eating the grass. It feels pretty hot outside my phone says 65 but it feels way hotter than that. They are having a lot of fun but will randomly lay on their sides. How long should they stay out?

They will be fine. It's in the high 80s here and I have several hens with young chicks.
Since you are raising them indoors, it's good to acclimate them now before the weather gets warmer. Do you have your coop and run ready? If it's secure, now is a good time to move them in.

 

[corthendo]

They will be fine. It's in the high 80s here and I have several hens with young chicks.
Since you are raising them indoors, it's good to acclimate them now before the weather gets warmer. Do you have your coop and run ready? If it's secure, now is a good time to move them in.

We were suppose to pick it up from Tractor supply last week but it hasn’t been delivered hoping to get it up this week! My plan was to move them outside during the day at least once we got it up. I’ve been really over analyzing the temp situation I have a thermometer in the brooder and I’m constantly checking it hoping they are at the right temp, but the correct temp for their age has always seemed too hot for them. When it was suppose to be 90 at a week they were panting so I kept them at 85, then having them at 85 they were having poop that looked like they were trying to get rid of water so I’ve been keeping them closer to 80 then they all seem to want to huddle together and sleep with their heads on one another.

 

[janiedoe]

We were suppose to pick it up from Tractor supply last week but it hasn’t been delivered hoping to get it up this week! My plan was to move them outside during the day at least once we got it up. I’ve been really over analyzing the temp situation I have a thermometer in the brooder and I’m constantly checking it hoping they are at the right temp, but the correct temp for their age has always seemed too hot for them. When it was suppose to be 90 at a week they were panting so I kept them at 85, then having them at 85 they were having poop that looked like they were trying to get rid of water so I’ve been keeping them closer to 80 then they all seem to want to huddle together and sleep with their heads on one another.

Im a worrier myself, so I understand your concerns.
I doubt they need additional heat. Unless your house is very cold, they will huddle and keep each other warm.
Beware prefab coops. Security may be an issue, as well as size and ventilation. I'd urge you to post a link to the coop you're purchasing in the coop build forum, so that you can get advice before putting it together.

 

[corthendo]

We were suppose to pick it up from Tractor supply last week but it hasn’t been delivered hoping to get it up this week! My plan was to move them outside during the day at least once we got it up. I’ve been really over analyzing the temp situation I have a thermometer in the brooder and I’m constantly checking it hoping they are at the right temp, but the correct temp for their age has always seemed too hot for them. When it was suppose to be 90 at a week they were panting so I kept them at 85, then having them at 85 they were having poop that looked like they were trying to get rid of water so I’ve been keeping them closer to 80 then they all seem to want to huddle together and sleep with their heads on one another.

Thank you I appreciate your response, we are first time chick owners and bought the coop before realizing we should have done research on it. We found some YouTube videos on how to make the coop more secure, so we are planning on making those adjustments. I’ll post a link to it.

 

[corthendo]

They will be fine. It's in the high 80s here and I have several hens with young chicks.
Since you are raising them indoors, it's good to acclimate them now before the weather gets warmer. Do you have your coop and run ready? If it's secure, now is a good time to move them in.

Update from yesterday it’s a little breezier today but I took the chicks outside they played and foraged a bit now they are cuddling up is it too cold for them? They are pretty feathered out other than their heads and necks

 

[Sussex19]

Update from yesterday it’s a little breezier today but I took the chicks outside they played and foraged a bit now they are cuddling up is it too cold for them? They are pretty feathered out other than their heads and necks

Going by that photo, they look happy and relaxed.
With the sun on them like that, they will be fine, even if there is a cold wind