I'm new to posting on this site...first post here 
I "adopted" 5 hens (Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red and Australorp) last summer when they were about 2 years old and fell in love with them. So naturally, I just had to order 26 new chicks that are due to arrive the beginning of next week
I have to say that I'm getting really nervous (is it weird that I am more nervous than when I had my own kids, at least I knew what I was doing then!). I'm a worrier at heart anyways so I find myself stressing over chicks DOA, chicks dying after I get them, etc, etc. Hopefully majority of them will make it, I just expected it to be warmer than it is by now!
Oh, and to add to that, in an effort to get ready for the new babies, we went out to TSC to pick up the chick starter (only thing I still needed) and due to my loving husband, we walked out with 6 ducklings!!!! WHAT?!?! You heard me, I have 26 chicks coming in 6 days and I added to that with 6 more.....but the more the merrier We ended up with Khaki Campbell's, but I have to admit, I am a research person and in no way am I up-to-date on duck research! I was never expecting ducklings! They seem to be doing quite well and I believe are already bigger than yesterday?
We just moved them to a dryer box as a brooder that's in our house in hopes that will get us through this next cold spell and then move them onto the enclosed porch in a refrigerator box along with the new chicks in a 2nd box. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed that it will warm up within the next few weeks! I am using a heat lamp, but I am struggling to get it all the way up to 90 (82 right now), the ducklings seem good, they stay really close to the heat lamp and they snuggle, but they are spread out and not piled on top of each other. But I don't know what will happen with the new babies.
Anyways, just wanted to say hi and introduce myself
Oh, and here's the first group...how ornery does the one on the left look???:
I "adopted" 5 hens (Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red and Australorp) last summer when they were about 2 years old and fell in love with them. So naturally, I just had to order 26 new chicks that are due to arrive the beginning of next week I have to say that I'm getting really nervous (is it weird that I am more nervous than when I had my own kids, at least I knew what I was doing then!). I'm a worrier at heart anyways so I find myself stressing over chicks DOA, chicks dying after I get them, etc, etc. Hopefully majority of them will make it, I just expected it to be warmer than it is by now!
Oh, and to add to that, in an effort to get ready for the new babies, we went out to TSC to pick up the chick starter (only thing I still needed) and due to my loving husband, we walked out with 6 ducklings!!!! WHAT?!?! You heard me, I have 26 chicks coming in 6 days and I added to that with 6 more.....but the more the merrier
We ended up with Khaki Campbell's, but I have to admit, I am a research person and in no way am I up-to-date on duck research! I was never expecting ducklings! They seem to be doing quite well and I believe are already bigger than yesterday?We just moved them to a dryer box as a brooder that's in our house in hopes that will get us through this next cold spell and then move them onto the enclosed porch in a refrigerator box along with the new chicks in a 2nd box. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed that it will warm up within the next few weeks! I am using a heat lamp, but I am struggling to get it all the way up to 90 (82 right now), the ducklings seem good, they stay really close to the heat lamp and they snuggle, but they are spread out and not piled on top of each other. But I don't know what will happen with the new babies.
Anyways, just wanted to say hi and introduce myself
Oh, and here's the first group...how ornery does the one on the left look???:
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and Welcome To BYC! How cute, he does look like a trouble maker. Good luck with your new ducklings and soon to be chicks! Not sure if you have seen it, but here is a nice thread on taking care of ducklings, 
So I'm thinking my best option is closing off the room, adding a heater, plus the heat lamp and will definitely try the towel!
