It's quite easy to see from the tone of your response that I offended you, and for that I sincerely apologize.Thanks for your concerns, but I have everything in order. The area where the chicks are is thoroughly cleaned frequently. I have a toddler in the house, so I keep things neat and safe. The brooder (aside from the top and the very back) is lined with cardboard to hold most things inside. As for the thermometer, the entire front half of the brooder is cooled off. The light is pointed towards the back end. The chicks let me know if they are too hot or too cold anyways, and they've only once expressed being too cold, and I fixed the problem instantly. I am a stay at home mom, so I monitor them all day. As for the laundry basket over the top of the heat lamp, it is not heated by the lamp. The lamp is pointed in the brooder, and is secured to the bars on the top of the cage. I've tied it down so that it wouldn't be able to touch the lamp whatsoever. The laundry basket is to protect against my kitten jumping up and knocking the lamp. Again, I monitor it, and the heat lamp does not heat up the basket. In fact, I would assume that having a lamp attached to a Rubbermaid container would have potential to cause more harm than my little set up. I've done my research extensively and I have kept all my babies alive and happy, as well as my family happy and clean and safe. Thanks.