Helloworld, I didn't think to mention overhandling them, because I don't. I not only have the tote they're in, but a clean one too. Once a day, I slide the soiled one from under the heat lamp, then slide the clean one, all set up and ready to go, under the heat lamp. Then I put the chicks in...
In the second photo, am I seeing their heat source at the bottom, with them? If so, their heat source should be overhead, not down low with them. They'll overheat that way.
Exactly what is a box/cage? Are you measuring temperature at the bottom of your set up, since the chicks are in the bottom? Is their food, and water on the cooler side? That's where it should be. Are they eating chick starter? When I first get chicks, I like to add Nutri Drench to their...