Moved chicks outside, worried...

[Mis pollitos]

so I moved my chicks to the coop today. We've got temps in the mid 70s during the day and about 60 at night. They are only 4 weeks old, but I also put their brooder plate in there with them. I've shown them the brooder plate and that it's nice and warm...but they're still huddled up on the opposite wall. Though that being said, they're calm (unless I go in there & aggravate them) & my thermometer says the temp in the coop is hovering around 68. Thoughts? At 72 during the day, they are active & only huddle for the occasional nap at this point & occasionally go under the brooder plate when the temps are in the 70s...so maybe they are ok. I'm just so stressed out! Unfortunately, they have outgrown their brooder faster than I thought they would & they were starting to get testy with each other...

At least I have the video baby monitor to keep an eye (& ear) on them...

I have 4 chicks, my first time through this chicken party. They're ready to be outside (5 weeks old) just as soon as the coop is ready for them
I'm thinking of getting a video monitor. What kind / brand of video system do you have?

 

[Onyxflock]

so I moved my chicks to the coop today. We've got temps in the mid 70s during the day and about 60 at night. They are only 4 weeks old, but I also put their brooder plate in there with them. I've shown them the brooder plate and that it's nice and warm...but they're still huddled up on the opposite wall. Though that being said, they're calm (unless I go in there & aggravate them) & my thermometer says the temp in the coop is hovering around 68. Thoughts? At 72 during the day, they are active & only huddle for the occasional nap at this point & occasionally go under the brooder plate when the temps are in the 70s...so maybe they are ok. I'm just so stressed out! Unfortunately, they have outgrown their brooder faster than I thought they would & they were starting to get testy with each other...

At least I have the video baby monitor to keep an eye (& ear) on them...

They call it a chick huddle, and even my 2 did that. But being only 2 chicks they tried to huddle and ended up pushing each other over, it was comical. Be glad you have a bunch to snuggle up together, like they would be under Mom. I put a couple of small stuffed birds in there to give other bodies for them to lean on.
Eventually you can put a little practice roost in close to their corner, to give them the idea of roosting. There's a great article on this site under raising baby chicks.
But also, do go in and rustle them around some so they get to know you.

 

[TheMrsBird]

I have 4 chicks, my first time through this chicken party. They're ready to be outside (5 weeks old) just as soon as the coop is ready for them
I'm thinking of getting a video monitor. What kind / brand of video system do you have?

I just have an extra video for the Motorola monitor I have for my kids...so at night it cycles through the boys' room, my daughter's room, & the chickies' room. I started out using it when they were in the bathroom to help monitor the temperature since we have an old house & april temps fluctuate so much it makes it hard to keep temps stable (it has a thermometer on it) & now that's mostly what I use it for (that & so hopefully we'll hear if something harasses them)

 

[feather13]

Your chicks sound so cute! We have 12 four week old chicks that huddle up in one laying box inside the coop at night even though there's a Brinsea heating pad with them. I don't know how they all fit, but they huddle up. Sounds like it's normal behavior. Good luck with your chicks!