First time with chicks. Are they happy?

[sariea]

Our first batch of chickens were 4-6 weeks old when we got them and went straight into the outdoor coop because it was August. This time we're starting with chicks that are (I'm assuming) 2-4 days old, and they're in a steel tub in our spare room (pic below). Just yesterday we replaced their heating lamp with a Titan Incubator heating plate, which I'm hoping is warm enough.

I've heard that a quiet chick is a happy chick, is that true? Mine seem to be pretty noisy. They're constantly chirping and running around in their little tub during the day. They all slept under the heating plate last night and I only heard a couple little peeps, so I'm assuming they're okay.

Any experience would be greatly appreciated when it comes to telling if they're happy.

We got 9 this time, females: 3x easter eggers, 1x cinnamon queen, 1x buff orpington; straight run: 2x lavender orpingtons and 2x blue-laced wyandotte. I really really hope at least one of the wyandottes is a hen because I've always wanted a blue-laced, and we're not allowed to keep roosters where we live. Also, there's one chick that instantly settles down and sleeps on me when I pick it up, but it's hard to tell the easter eggers and the wyandottes apart, so I really hope I'm not bonding with a rooster that I'll eventually have to give up...

(they're not all under the brooder in this pic. They like to run around in the lower portion of the tub where the camera can't see them )

 

[SueT]

It looks ideal to me....the'll go under the heater plate if they need to warm up.

 

[CannedMonster]

Healthy chicks are very active.
Constantly exploring and jumping and flapping their wings, strengthening their muscles.
You will be very surprised at how quickly they’ll be able to jump out of that tub.
They are also constantly peeping to keep in contact with one another.
I had a broody raised chick that was just as noisy lol.
You will learn to tell the difference between normal peeping and the sounds of distress which are much louder and frantic sounds.
Also, there’s a “where are you!?” chirp that chicks will do when they can’t see their hatch mates or mom.

 

[sariea]

Also, there’s a “where are you!?” chirp that chicks will do when they can’t see their hatch mates or mom.

I think I heard that last night when the lights got dimmed at bedtime lol. One chick was standing on top of the brooder chirping very loudly and didn't stop until I went in, picked her up for a few seconds, and then placed her underneath it

 

[CannedMonster]

I think I heard that last night when the lights got dimmed at bedtime lol. One chick was standing on top of the brooder chirping very loudly and didn't stop until I went in, picked her up for a few seconds, and then placed her underneath it

Yep you got it lol.
They have a hard time finding their way in the dark.
If you have a window in the room they’re in, try to keep it uncovered so that it gets dark gradually and you’ll find that they will put themselves to bed.