Two Questions, Please?

[3KillerBs]

#1. This is cuddled, not huddled, right? They're quiet, not peeping. Just an occasional chirp.

The thermometer they're sitting on reads just about 95.

#2. How long should I use the paper towels?

 

[WeeRadish]

Awe they're so cute! I don't have any experience with heat lamps to answer the first questions, but I usually keep my chicks on paper towel just for the first couple of days. Just enough to make sure they can tell food apart from pine shavings! Hopefully some more people can help you

 

[sealer39]

Looks good as long as they can get away from the heat if they want.
You can use paper towels as long as you want but they might start eating it.

 

[3KillerBs]

The coop is 4'x4' -- plenty of room.

 

[50-45-1]

The paper towel can go if your chicks are over 3 days old.
They know what the food looks like now.
Even if they do test eat some small shaving pieces now, they will not like it.
The temp looks good for now. They are not piling up in the picture.
As they grow in their feathers you will have to raise the bulb up or switch to a lower wattage bulb.
You are doing great!
What breed are they?

 

[3KillerBs]

So I can probably clear up the paper towels on Monday? I got them yesterday -- having to wait for the delivery to the farm store -- but have no idea how long they spend in shipping.

I'm moving the bulb up and down according to the outside temperature (they're brooding in the coop), and enlisting a fascinated 14yo to do it when I'm at work this coming week.

I have 2 Light Brahmas, which are actually 2 weeks old already -- being leftover from a previous shipment-- 2 Blue Australorps, 2 California Whites, and 2 "Assorted Wyandottes".

The helpful and knowledgeable clerk at Carolina Town and Country told me to pick the lightest, most silvery chicks to get the SLW's since I didn't want any gold. I discovered a couple hours after I got home that they don't match.

#1 matches the Meyer's chick ID page for SLW's:

#2 has a silver stripe down the middle instead of a black stripe:

I forgot to ask what hatchery they used, but the breeds available match Welp, which does not list the less common varieties of Wyandotte separately so that I could compare chick colors/patterns.