overheating? or normal behavior?

[emorems0]

I've been taking our 3-4 week chicks outside to a little outdoor pen every few days (as long as it isn't raining) to get them used to being outside and to give us a space to be in with them and handle them. Sometimes they seem to be overheating despite having shade and water available. Right now it is 82 degrees outside which should be ideal for 3-4 week old chicks, right? But they keep laying down on their sides and spreading out their wings... they never do that in the brooder. It looks like overheating to me (like, I feel like doing that in this sun/heat, just sprawling out on the ground exhausted from the heat). I pick them up and direct them to the shade and water and they run around and scratch the dirt/grass and seem fine, then they'll sprawl out like that again later. Seems like they do it more frequently at the beginning of their little 'field trip' and less after a while, so maybe it has to do with the shock of changing environment?

In a few weeks they'll be out in the summer heat all day long (their run will have shade and the coop is very well ventilated). But if they can't handle the heat as chicks when they are supposed to be kept at warm temps, how will they handle being outside all the time?

Here's a really bad picture, often the top wing is outstretched too.

 

[TommyDaDelaware]

Looks to me like they are enjoying a wing sunbath. Stretching the wings out and cocking the head at an odd angle?

 

[emorems0]

So, I'm just annoying them by picking them up and directing them to the shade? lol. They aren't laying down on their feet like normal and just stretching out their wings though, it's like they are flopped over on their side and dying (of course they seem fine when I rouse them... it's just the "omg, it looks like that chick is dying" position of their body that has me worried).

 

[TommyDaDelaware]

So, I'm just annoying them by picking them up and directing them to the shade? lol. They aren't laying down on their feet like normal and just stretching out their wings though, it's like they are flopped over on their side and dying (of course they seem fine when I rouse them... it's just the "omg, it looks like that chick is dying" position of their body that has me worried).

Probably. We had some Ex-Battery hens do that to us too, our first few days with chickens we let them out and they just flopped over on their sides. My dad stood in the sun beam one had found, and she gave him the worst stink eye I've seen from a chicken, got up, and moved to the sun again. Lol. They are just awkward with their positions while sunbathing the first few times.

 

[cafarmgirl]

They are just sunbathing, enjoying the heat and the sun. They'll move to the shade when they have had enough.

 

[emorems0]

Thank you! I feel so much better! I really didn't think it would be too hot for them, and they do have shade and water... it was just the position they were laying down in that had me worried.