New plan! (LOTS O PICS, adding them as I go)

[WhySayWhat]

The heat lamp is actually sitting at an angle on the mesh now...and has held at 92 since 3 pm! I know I can't set it and forget about it, but wanted to get an idea of where it should be before the chicks get here in 10 days. It's mess with the brooder or bake today, lol. I have done both...

I'll get more current photos up once my cell charges and I can get down there and take a new one.

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

You need to make sure your comfortable with it, so its good that you are checking it out now. Once the chicks arrive, you have to set it and forget about it. Well sort of. We all are guilty of standing around looking at the little fuzzy butts and fussing over them all day long. But, you can't turn it off when you run out to the store or off to work. So do what every you need to do now to make sure your comfortable with your set up.

I think you will be fine. But here's a tip. You may want to pick up a medium sized brown teddy bear to put in the corner of you brooder. It seems to calm and quiet the chicks. They seem to think it is the "mama chick" and they don't yell or scream so much. My first batch of chicks last fall, screamed all day and night. I got a teddy bear now, and they are soooo much quieter.

 

[WhySayWhat]

I have a stuffed Beaver that I've had for about 12 years..I got it when my oldest cat was an itty bitty kitty (she looked like a large dark brown cotton ball, lol). She used to snuggle it for hours and hours. I planned on grabbing it or one of the cheap dog toy teddy bears for them, the dog doesn't care for them anyway.

Otherwise...no work for me, I didn't get a call back today from HF.

He said if I didn't hear anything by Saturday (and he wouldn't be calling on Saturday) that I didn't get the job. On to the next batch of 30 resumes and applications! I was just happy to finally get picked for an interview...having not worked since we moved here nearly 4 years ago is really hurting my chances...no work since then looks a little "lazy" to employers.

 

[abChicken]

 

[WhySayWhat]

Too much "Monday" stuff going on today to build, but this week's weather is forecasted to be at or near 50! I will be out there tommorow!

In the meantime, I went shopping!

Today I picked up a 3" and a set of 3 smaller paint brushes at the Dollar Tree. Then, off to Wal-Mart (not my favorite place in the world to be, but the sell Kool-Aid Fizzers cheaper than anywhere else and they have sugar free York Peppermint Patties!) where I found a Feather duster for under $1 and a stacking storage bin (20.5"x16"x13") that has a 3" or so lip on the front edge on clearance for $4.50! I got my nest box.

I also got a roll of shelf liner at the Dollar Tree because I just don't think the paper towels are going to last long...this I can wash or throw away...

 

[Valerie Dawn]

I have not yet had chicks, but I remember someone saying that when they are real little they need some "traction" so newspaper is not good, that's why folks recommend paper towels. I'm thinking shelf liner may be as slick as newspaper.

You could put a layer of paper towels over the shelf liner to save on the paper towels, maybe.

 

[Michigan Transplant]

I used the black shelf liner that Walmart had. It comes in other colors and isn't slippery at all. I was able to pull it out and wash it and let it dry and put it back in. I did have two pieces so that while one was drying the other was getting used. The girls are almost three weeks old (wed) and there are NO leg problems. I do have the pine shavings in there to. They will peck at them but don't eat them. Good luck.

 

[Valerie Dawn]

Oh, I was thinking of the shiny paper type! Your picture is very clear it is a heavier, textured and maybe rubbery type.

 

[abChicken]

Well WhySayWhat thought u had left the country-This is for what its
worth and I know what everyone recommends, but i have never put
anything but shavings in my brooder. I got 6 1 week old silkies in one now
I got them when the were only few hours old they are growing like crazy.
agn I know I am not doing what is recommended, but i have never had any
problems....

 

[WhySayWhat]

Yep, that's the kind of shelf liner I got...I knew I should have taken pictures, lol. It's the "no-slip" kind that has little "beads" of rubbery stuff... Anywho, if I don't use it, I'll use it in my kitchen...something has got to be done about that silverware tray sliding around! Lol!

I thought about just using pine shavings too...but the paper towels and shelf liner are cheap enough that I thought I'd give them a try before chucking the idea out the window.

Any excuse to buy "stuff", right?

And, I didn't leave the country...well, maybe in my dreams...our weather decided it wasn't done with the heavy snows just yet and we had a blizzard a few weeks ago and got somewhere between 12-15" overnight and it stuck around and had a party with some of it's friends for a while. The backyard still has some snow in it, but at least I can get the gate open again! Which I needed to do to get the wood back to the coop without treking it through the house... Tommorow I'll start work on the coop again, provided our currently nice weather holds. Today was supply gathering and seed planting! I got all of my herbs and flower seeds planted, yeah! I have a couple of weeks yet before the veggies need to be started.