Questions before chicks arrive

[ChicFil- A]

Hello everyone,
My first batch of chicks arrive in a few short weeks and I have very little clue as to what I am doing. Truth be told I am a tad nervous about the whole endeavor but I'm sure I will do okay. I have trolled the boards here and have tried to soak up as much info as I can. Because I don't know what I don't know and because building something is way out of my bailiwick. I was one of those blokes born with 5 thumbs on each finger so I tend to buy what I need rather than try to build it.
All that being said I am using a cardboard box for brooding this first batch of 5 chicks. I have a chicken coop heater, feeder, and water bottle and I will line the bottom of the box with some 20mil polyplastic that I have on hand, over that I will be using hemp. The box is 30" L x 21" W x 22" T.

My first question is, will this be tall enough to prevent them from jumping out for a few weeks will I install the prefab coop?
I will post pics of what I have going on as soon as I have something presentable but if there is anything I will need for the brooder that I haven't mentioned please let me know.
Cheers

Please post some pictures as I love seeing other’s ideas, It sounds like you are on target…Start looking for a deeper box… our chicks were jumping like popcorn.
this box will do for the first couple of weeks

 

[rosemarythyme]

They huddled under the heat for about 3 hours and then started exploring, just finished a feed fest so I think we are all rose's right now.

Keep an eye on how they're doing under the heat element. I know you tested temps earlier but since this is a coop heater and not specifically a brooder plate I'm not sure if the chicks will be okay with it that high up (brooder plates are intended to work via direct contact, not by heating the air, but this is a radiant heat plate?)

 

[Psyclops]

Keep an eye on how they're doing under the heat element. I know you tested temps earlier but since this is a coop heater and not specifically a brooder plate I'm not sure if the chicks will be okay with it that high up (brooder plates are intended to work via direct contact, not by heating the air, but this is a radiant heat plate?)

Yes, a radiant heat plate. I take temps of the walls, bedding and ambient air temp. So it is pretty accurate. All 6 chicks huddle together but not climbing over each other and are pretty quit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes, a radiant heat plate. I take temps of the walls, bedding and ambient air temp. So it is pretty accurate. All 6 chicks huddle together but not climbing over each other and are pretty quit.

Sounds good - if they're quiet underneath there and not piled up, then they're comfortable.

 

[KentuckyDuckMomma]

I have baby chicks as well, I’m new to them. I was told from a lady to put apple cider vinegar in their water as babies to get used to the taste when they’re adults. Is this the same as nutri drench? Also, how much of each?

The lady also told me not to give them tap water but my sister has always given her chickens tap water and I’ve always given my ducks tap water. Is this okay?

 

[Rurumo]

I have baby chicks as well, I’m new to them. I was told from a lady to put apple cider vinegar in their water as babies to get used to the taste when they’re adults. Is this the same as nutri drench? Also, how much of each?

The lady also told me not to give them tap water but my sister has always given her chickens tap water and I’ve always given my ducks tap water. Is this okay?

ACV is different from Nutri Drench, which is molasses, vitamins, and some aminos. I wouldn't give those in the same water. I used to like to keep two chick waterers, one always with fresh water, one if I want to give them ACV or electrolytes. That way they wont reduce their drinking if they don't like something.

 

[Kool-Kemp]

I never used heat lamp for my chicks, even in winter. What I use is the regular (a bit high watt) bulb hanging on top of the amazon box that I use as brooder, connecting to a timer so it can turn off at some point of the night or day.
When they are around 4 weeks old, I move them to the large dog crate in my garage so they can get use to the cooler temperature outside, again with the same light bulb, but much less hours being on.
At 6 weeks, I introduce them to the big girls with wire between them for like a week. Then they join the flock right after.
They may get pecked on and chased around at the beginning, but I let them be. They will figure it out how to stay around the bullies who will then get tired of chasing and let them be eventually.
I do give 2 separate feeders so that the small ones have something to eat. The best way I figured is to just throw some feed spreading on the ground, that way the small ones can get to the feed easier, because they get chased a lot if I give feed in a feeder.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The lady also told me not to give them tap water but my sister has always given her chickens tap water and I’ve always given my ducks tap water. Is this okay?

Does it come from a public utility (city or county water) or is it from a private well or cistern? If it is from a public system it is OK. If it is from a private source, have you had that water tested to assure it is safe for you?