Mr. Dad the basement may work well with little chicks. Lucky for me I keep my ordered chicks in a brooder in the back of the gaurage......in the Spring until they feather out good....couple weeks old. I deal with cleaning out the pan by emptying the bottom tray and use a heavy duty shop vac in clean up. After the little ones get older and need more room relocate them to the outside in a pen with plastic around it on all sides but one and the bottom. When placed outside in the bigger brooder pen, I still run electical chords out to my pen and burn lights for several more weeks. I usually run two lights just incase a bulb burns out. If this were to happen at least they still have one light left for warmth. After the days and nights get to warmer temperatures and the birds are feathered out completely, then you could stop using the light. It is a bit messy for a while when you first get the chicks and they are inside. After they are placed outside it is much better. Just remember to keep them warm! Goodluck! Johnny Oh yea, I like and recommend Buff Orpingtons, and also Standard Ameraucana (bearded, muffed, blue-eggs!)
