ok, I have the chicks, now what?!!

[henchandelier]

After months of preparation (mainly reading I'll admit), I finally have my babies! There are two buff orpingtons and three barred Plymouth rocks...

So they are in a bird cage in the basement with a 125 heat lamp plugged in at the top of the cage... They are supposedly about 1-2 Weeks old... They don't seem to want to be held, Is that normal?

Also, how much feed/water should I be giving them and how frequently?... How often should I clean out the brooder?

 

[amberflea]

Free feed and fresh water available always. Clean brooder when its dirty, or at least once daily... quite normal to be timid of being held if they haven't been handled from birth.