For those 9 chicks, you can probably keep them in one of those 30 gallon rubbermaid storage containers until they are ready or almost ready to go outside.
Add at least a red floodlight, possibly a heat lamp, and a thermometer so that you know the temp is up to about 95 when you first get them.
After that they say to raise the light enough to reduce the temp by about 5 degrees per week. You can also or instead, just keep a close eye on how the kids assemble themselves in the bottom of the container. If they all pile on top of each other, they are probably too cold; if they move as far as they can get to the edges and away from the light, they are probably too warm. You want them to just drop on their little faces and go to sleep wherever they are without looking for a colder or warmer place.
By the way, where on the Big Island are you?
Susan
Add at least a red floodlight, possibly a heat lamp, and a thermometer so that you know the temp is up to about 95 when you first get them.
After that they say to raise the light enough to reduce the temp by about 5 degrees per week. You can also or instead, just keep a close eye on how the kids assemble themselves in the bottom of the container. If they all pile on top of each other, they are probably too cold; if they move as far as they can get to the edges and away from the light, they are probably too warm. You want them to just drop on their little faces and go to sleep wherever they are without looking for a colder or warmer place.
By the way, where on the Big Island are you?
Susan
