Waiting is SOOO hard

[Layira]

First thing I want to say is CONGRATS!

Getting in chicks is very exciting! Hope you like your little ones and have fun!

Another thing, I agree with mounting the brooder lamp in more than one way. It's nerve wracking to think it might fall, so its better to be safe than sorry. And another thing, you might want to get a red light instead of white, its supposed to be better for them. Just a tip.

 

[chickp]

I am having such a hard time waiting today! Mine are due to ship a week from today and it is driving me crazy, even though I have tons of stuff to do still before they come! I may take a trip to the feed store today just to go ahead and prepare....I need a bulb, bedding, and food for the little chickies, and we have a lot to do on the coop, still. So I am going to try to enjoy the preparation too! Anything else I am missing for the first few days? I heard someone mention mineral oil just in case of pasty butt....

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I would never allow chicks to be delivered to my house! Check with your PO a day or two before the chicks are due to arrive and ask that they be kept at the post office. Tell them you want to be called and you will come to pick them up.
I have chicks coming this week. I plan to stop by the post office this afternoon and remind them, no chicks in the letter carrier's vehicle! I want them home and in their brooder, with food and water asap, so I don't mind getting my old butt up at 6:30 in the morning to make the trek to the PO. For all I know, we are at the tailend of our letter carrier's route. I don't want those chicks to have to wait for their new home.

 

[casumm]

Quote:
I've stopped by. Called. And talked with our postal carrier. Hopefully 3 levels of "call me when the box peeps" will be enough to keep them out of the delivery truck! We are on a walking route so I don't want them locked up in a stuffy truck between streets.

Gritsar, where are your chicks coming from?

-chris

 

[zDoc]

If your brooder happens to be in the house you could probably get by with just a 100 watt bulb, then a few weeks later switch to a 60 watt bulb. Those 250 watt bulbs are a little scary cause they get a little warm. Good luck, congrats on your new endeavor and last but not least

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I've stopped by. Called. And talked with our postal carrier. Hopefully 3 levels of "call me when the box peeps" will be enough to keep them out of the delivery truck! We are on a walking route so I don't want them locked up in a stuffy truck between streets.

Gritsar, where are your chicks coming from?

-chris

From Ideal in Cameron, TX. We are only six hours away, but last time it took two days to get them here anyhow. Our PO has one clerk/postmaster and one carrier, so it shouldn't be too difficult for them to remember my request.

My brooder is on the screened porch. We'll see how things are when they get here, but chances are I won't even need a heat lamp during the day. They aren't using heat in the commercial houses for day olds right now.

 

[write2caroline]

Mine are due to ship on the 14th of June and a few more in August!

Your set up is looking sweet! Take a lot of picures and post em! I was so nervous at first. Chicks are pretty hardy though so the temp thing is important and they will show you they are hot or cold by moving under the heat or out of it.
Caroline

 

[Bridget399]

Congrats! Those are 2 very fun breeds!
The only thing I would do is check the batteries in your camera! LOL
Mine aren't due until the 18th, I haven't told my husband yet...

 

[LittleChocobo]

Quote:
Surely they won't leave your baby chicks in the bushes!!!! Did you have to oder the brooder too? What kind did you get?

I loved the cardboard circle type they had on My Pet Chicken but it was impractical with Hobbes, predator kitten extraordinaire, currently ruling our household with his reign of terror. We needed a lid! Plus, with the clear plastic, we have a great view of Chic TV. I hope that will help with the No Holding Chicks without Mommy rule that will be strictly enforced (using threats and double toddler-proof locks).

-chris

I wouldn't honestly trust them to even call when the chicks were in the post office. >: They would probably just set them in or by the bushes, but not let me know they were there -- and it's been raining for three straight nights. The driveway is a mucky muddy wet puddle-ridden mess -- they'd be dead by the time I found them, because I can't skip work to sit by the driveway for a day or two to sit in the road and wait for them. Besides the cold and rain, we have coyotes, dogs, curious passersby, and raccoons out here. And I'm making my own brooder -- lightless heat lamp, pine shavings, box, thermometer, water, feed.

I'm going to be making a hardware cloth lid for my brooder box. We have four cats and two dogs! All six of them know they're not allowed in my room (trying to get new rules in place before chicks get here) but that doesn't stop them from basically just slamming into the door until it opens (it's a prefab house). No Holding Chicks Without Mommy is a great rule to have! I've seen toddlers learn to open those locks though -- you may want to find something that requires some strength to get through as well.

 

[casumm]

UPDATE: No call from the post office this morning.

I know they say it can be anytime before Thursday but I was hoping it would be the soonest possible moment (aka this morning). I even dreamed the post office called and we hurried over there to get them. I seriously feel like an excited teenager with this whole chick project. hehehe

Fingers crossed that they will call tomorrow morning! (I don't want the little fluffer butters to be too stressed out.)

-c