New chicks on the way! but we got a "practice" flock first!

[CoffeeCow]

Good Idea with the deck box
We are looking at some large dog crates to use as a stage 2 brooder. I think I may be ablew to borrow one from a friend for a few weeks. (I will be sure to clean it very well before returning it

)

The ducklings are doing well still. they seem a bit more interested in me now, and not quite as scared. My son (2 year old) loves going in and watching them. he can't quite say "peep" so he says "beep beep" when he talks to them

He is doing surprisingly well with them, he keeps his voice low and does not try to touch/chase them. He just watches and "beeps" at them.

 

[henney penny]

I think the 250 watt will be to hot for them,you will know if they are moved a long way away from it they are to hot.I would put marbles or samll rocks in the waterer for a week or so so they don`t drown,they fall asleep so quickly that this could happen.I like the red heat light the best but its hard to find less that 250 in the red unless you special order or you have a pet store that would carry them.You will enjoy them so much they are so fun to warch,I was new at this two years ago and started out with 10 and now have 38 and two coops and just built another run for them,I so enjoy the eggs and the entertainment they give me.Enjoy you fuffy babies. I have 10 EE`s,13 golden comets,5 black sexlinks,7 silkies and a hamburg rooster.

 

[Joyryder]

C O N G R A T S ! ! !

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who got started with a practice flock after pre ordering 30 chicks.
just remember to listen to the little guys, they'll let you know if they're uncomfortable. I always hung my light on a chain. After I found their comfort zone, I would shorten it by a link each day, until they didn't need it.

 

[Prospector]

Similar to your chain suggestion, we stole a guy line from our tent. They have slippy adjusters on them so you can adjust where you put the peg, and then tension the tent. Anyway, I tied it to a nail in the ceiling, and hung the lamp from it. Now I can adjust the height of th elamp by sliding the tension adjuster on the rope. So far its worked really well.

We have 2 tents, and in one of them the adjusters were plastic, in the other tent the adjusters were stamped aluminium with a beefier cord. I didn't trust the plastic ones not to slip.

Edit to add: Since we have chickens, I put a roost in our brooder, so now thebirds can sleep on the roost, closer to the lamp, or on the floor further from it. You may be able to put a shelf in your rubbermade to give the ducklings the same options.