Should I plant out my courgettes and squashes under cloches?

My poor little cucurbits are suffering a little I think from being stuck inside. They've got a lovely bright west facing window to sit by, and since I live on a hill they get a ton of sunlight, but only after midday. They're looking a little leggy. I think they'd probably benefit from going outside on the plot under cloches (old five litre water bottles), but my plot has a bit of a slug infestation at the moment. I went down last night after the rain, and with the heat as well, I could hardly move for slugs. There are three or four frogs inhabiting my compost pile, but they seem to be being a bit slack so I chucked a few slug pellets about the place. After the long wait for these plants to germinate I'd be gutted for them to get eaten. Should I take the risk and plant them out anyway, with a defensive ring of slug pellets? I suppose it wouldn't take too long now for any new seeds I sowed to germinate.