My silkies will be here in the morning. They are our first chicks and I'm a little nervous! I think they will be 3-4 weeks old. I have a rabbit cage set up that has a wire bottom with a pull out dropping tray below. What do I put on the wire bottom? Newspaper? Nothing? I assume I fill the dropping try (which is actually about 6" inches deep) with the pine shavings. Is that right? I have the 250 watt red lights set up but they are making me nervous. I plugged them in for a minute and they seem really hot. Is everything okay under them? I was just looking at the feeder and stuff thinking "Please don't melt!" I couldn't find a thermometer anywhere quick enough. TSC said they don't have any and I'll know by the chicks actions if they are cold or hot. So I guess that will be a wait and see type thing. Not sure how close to put the lamp (top of the cage looking down, up a little higher). I have chick start in there. Will do water tomorrow. What else? I guess I'm mostly worried about that lamp. The cages have a wire top but it seems to have an epoxy coating of some kind and I didn't know if the lamp will melt that.
ARGH! This is worse than having a real baby... well, almost!
ARGH! This is worse than having a real baby... well, almost!