Congrats on your newbies coming soon!!!
Have you decided what you will be using as a brooder? Almost anything that can contain something can be used as a brooder. I love using tupperware containers for smaller batches of chicks, and for larger batches I use "my first home cages" however that's pricey. I know one BYC'er who used an old closet layed on it's back to make as a brooder.
Make sure NOWHERE in the brooder is slippy for the chicks as this can cause splay leg. (deformed leg that's almost impossible to fix once it's caused). This is why some suggest paper towels which does work well for the first few days.
Then you can switch to bedding like aspen shavings (no pine or cedar please- as the phenol oils have been known to cause respiratory distress).
Make sure you already have chick feed ready to go so you're not rushing to buy it when they're already here.
I get my heatlamps from
petco, as well as the heatbulbs. I don't even pay attention to what the temperature is under the lamp, I just offer the chicks a draft free area in their brooder to snuggle under the lamp, as well as an area that they can walk away from the lamp to cool down if they get too warm.
I lay a blanket over the brooder to assist with avoiding drafts. In a garage there may be drafts unless you keep it nicely heated. You can surely house chicks in an unheated garage, however keep drafts out and make SURE thier heatlamp is actually keeping them warm. My bedroom stays around 65 F so keeping drafts out, and just having the lamp on in there keeps them nice and toasty.
