Chicks arriving tomorrow!

[The Cackle Box]

Hi all, I'm a first time chick raiser. I have 24 chicks arriving tomorrow and think I'm ready, but don't know what I don't know. What I do know is from the dozens of threads I've read here. Brooder is a 6' x 2' puppy playpen on top of a table in the garage. Have a 19 1/2" x 12" heat plate, waterer, feeder, pine shavings, a Roost stick and a round tree branch to climb on. Pine shavings with paper towels under the feeder and waterer. Sides are 3' and the entire thing is covered with hardware cloth, including a top. There are 2 windows in the garage that face West. We're in NW Arkansas so evenings are in the 50s and daytime has been 70s-80s. Garage is warmer than outside. About 8" of cardboard surround bottom to keep shavings inside and eliminate drafts. Since I have windows in the garage, do I need a "night light" for the chicks? What gotchas should I be aware of? Thanks in advance!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Congratulations!

No, you don't need a night light in the brooder. Since they have natural light from the windows, they will have more of a natural sleep/wake cycle by using the heat plate. They will notice the light starting to fade and begin to settle under the plate. They make all kinds of calls and peeps while settling in.

I would provide chick grit free choice.
Personally, for the first few days to a week, I place puppy pads over the shavings. Easier cleanup and you can see poops. They will spill water and strew food, it's inevitable. Wet brooders and feed stink. You could just put puppy pads under the food water and leave all the rest shavings...
We all do things differently. I've just found this works for me.

Relax. You've got this! Have fun with the babies.
As time goes by, you will tweak things and find what works best for you too.

 

[The Cackle Box]

Thank you. It's time to get in gear and finish the chicken coop!

 

[rosemarythyme]

24 chicks are going to outgrow a brooder that size extremely quickly (like in 1-2 weeks), so I hope you have something larger already ready to go.

Your heating plate is probably not going to be large enough for long. They overestimate how many chicks will fit under them, so figure it will hold half of what the manufacturer claims. 24 chicks under a single plate is a recipe for crushed or trampled chicks. Get a second plate if at all possible. Make sure there's room on all sides of the plate for chicks to be able to get out from.

Chicks do not need light at night, and it's better for them IMO to have a natural day night cycle.

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

Congratulations!

No, you don't need a night light in the brooder. Since they have natural light from the windows, they will have more of a natural sleep/wake cycle by using the heat plate. They will notice the light starting to fade and begin to settle under the plate. They make all kinds of calls and peeps while settling in.

I would provide chick grit free choice.
Personally, for the first few days to a week, I place puppy pads over the shavings. Easier cleanup and you can see poops. They will spill water and strew food, it's inevitable. Wet brooders and feed stink. You could just put puppy pads under the food water and leave all the rest shavings...
We all do things differently. I've just found this works for me.

Relax. You've got this! Have fun with the babies.
As time goes by, you will tweak things and find what works best for you too.

How are your chicks doing? I got my first chicks on April 25th. So amazed how fast they are growing!

 

[The Cackle Box]

How are your chicks doing? I got my first chicks on April 25th. So amazed how fast

How are your chicks doing? I got my first chicks on April 25th. So amazed how fast they are growing!

All 27 are doing great. I'm actually stunned at how much they've grown in 2 weeks. Have to finalize the outdoor coop in the next couple of days so I can move them out to their 8x12 Hen house. If I don't get it done quickly I'll have to split them up into a couple of other wire dog crates so theyre not overcrowded. I have 5 or 6 who will fly up and sit on my arm while I'm doing whatever in their brooder. They're pretty entertaining. Thanks for asking.