Everything I need? Minus the chicks of course.

[Mr. Fixit50]

Oh and you'll want to put down something for traction for the first week. I know I have used newspaper and papertowels it prevents spraddle leg and keeps the chicks from eating the shavings till they know the difference between food and wood.

 

[bibliophile birds]

as someone else said, you need a heat source for the brooder. if it's a relatively small brooder (like a fish tank or cardboard box) a naked 100w or 75w lightbulb will work. also, get a cheap digital thermometer that you won't mind the chicks pooping on. you want to set the brooder up at least the day before you get them and get the temp up to 95F. get a ceramic heat reflector for the bulb. you can get them at the hardware store or feed store and they look like this

.

you want to set up the light so that the chicks can easily get away from it to cool off. this illustration is helpful.

if your brooder is larger, i would go with an infra-red heat bulb, like this

.

i also like the mason jar waterers, but i went with the trough feeders because i had a lot of chicks and the troughs were easy.

good luck and have fun!