AmeliaBedelia
Crowing
I made @aart ’s version of the mama hen heating pad where it is shaped more like a heat plate and it worked amazingly well. I did have to hers the chicks under it a couple times before they caught on that it was the warm place, but then they LOVED it. You can tell you have the temps right by their chirps. Quiet little peeps and twitters are happy chicks. Car alarm type peeping is a chick who has a problem - very likely too hot or cold.
I used a 9x9 sunbeam heating pad (NO auto shutoff) on top of the wire rack from my old toaster over. I attached legs I stole from a cookie cooling rack. That was PLENTY big enough for the 3 chicks I had at the time - would likely work for 6. Don’t put it in the corner of the enclosure, since you always want them to be able to easily leave so they don’t over heat AND you don’t want one to get smothered up against the corner.
I am happy to share more details if you like?
My other main tips for first timers is that the rubbermaid tote will not last you long, but is fun for that first week since you can have them in the room with you while you watch tv or whatever. But have a bigger setup ready!
Also, I found that mixing water with the chick crumble food so it is similar to applesauce really seemed to help them stay hydrated and they didn’t spread it around the cage as much. Oh and add pebbles to their water or use nipple waterers so they don’t drown. (Baby chicks are basically LOOKING for ways to die that first week or so.)
I used a 9x9 sunbeam heating pad (NO auto shutoff) on top of the wire rack from my old toaster over. I attached legs I stole from a cookie cooling rack. That was PLENTY big enough for the 3 chicks I had at the time - would likely work for 6. Don’t put it in the corner of the enclosure, since you always want them to be able to easily leave so they don’t over heat AND you don’t want one to get smothered up against the corner.
I am happy to share more details if you like?
My other main tips for first timers is that the rubbermaid tote will not last you long, but is fun for that first week since you can have them in the room with you while you watch tv or whatever. But have a bigger setup ready!
Also, I found that mixing water with the chick crumble food so it is similar to applesauce really seemed to help them stay hydrated and they didn’t spread it around the cage as much. Oh and add pebbles to their water or use nipple waterers so they don’t drown. (Baby chicks are basically LOOKING for ways to die that first week or so.)