Just received the email from Cackle; they're on their way! 
Brooder is just about ready—we just need to put in some of pine shavings and top them with paper towels, and plug the heat plate in (it seems to heat up to 108 in an hour, so we'll probably do that before heading out to get the chicks...PO is about 20-25 minutes away, and the temperatures here are going to be in the high 80s to low 90s all week, so is that okay?).
Couple of questions, to double check:
* Does the water indeed need to be 95-100 degrees when the chicks arrive? How do you keep it warm while you head out to pick up the babies? (Dumbest question ever, probably.)
* Should I just automatically put in some of the Sav-A-Chick and probiotics into the water? (We have both, in the packets.)
* I've read in a couple of places that it's not wise to give the chicks food for an hour after they arrive; is this legit?
* The bedding beneath the heat plate should not be that thick, I'm guessing? Of course we'll have some under there, beneath paper towels for a few days, but it doesn't need to be as deep, does it?
* The recommendations I've seen suggest the plate be about 3" high for day-olds; is that about right, even in our heat?
Any other suggestions very welcome, I've been a little freaked out. I've wanted chickens for nearly a decade now!
Oh, it does look like no substitutes, unless that doesn't show up on the email notification from the hatchery. Dominiques have interested me since I learned about them and we should have three on their way!
❤❤❤
Brooder is just about ready—we just need to put in some of pine shavings and top them with paper towels, and plug the heat plate in (it seems to heat up to 108 in an hour, so we'll probably do that before heading out to get the chicks...PO is about 20-25 minutes away, and the temperatures here are going to be in the high 80s to low 90s all week, so is that okay?).
Couple of questions, to double check:
* Does the water indeed need to be 95-100 degrees when the chicks arrive? How do you keep it warm while you head out to pick up the babies? (Dumbest question ever, probably.)
* Should I just automatically put in some of the Sav-A-Chick and probiotics into the water? (We have both, in the packets.)
* I've read in a couple of places that it's not wise to give the chicks food for an hour after they arrive; is this legit?
* The bedding beneath the heat plate should not be that thick, I'm guessing? Of course we'll have some under there, beneath paper towels for a few days, but it doesn't need to be as deep, does it?
* The recommendations I've seen suggest the plate be about 3" high for day-olds; is that about right, even in our heat?
Any other suggestions very welcome, I've been a little freaked out. I've wanted chickens for nearly a decade now!
Oh, it does look like no substitutes, unless that doesn't show up on the email notification from the hatchery. Dominiques have interested me since I learned about them and we should have three on their way!
❤❤❤
Here is the setup--obviously we'll put the waterers in just prior to arrival. 
