Getting Ready for Chick Babies

We are also getting ready for some babies - chick babies. After mounds of research and reading, and umteen hours on Pinterest, we've decided to just do it (Thank you Chicken Chick). So comes the mad dash to provide a place for the little bits to live, and more hours of research on brooders. Then, an idea struck - I have what used to be the habitat for my beardie up in the barn.  

I originally converted the display case (that is what it was in it's first life) to a bearded dragon habitat so Sydney could live in my classroom. It sat empty after he passed, and somehow made the move with us up north. Until last week, the dresser/tank was sitting in the barn waiting for a new purpose. 

 

Here's what it looks like all emptied and prepped with Kills. I fully lined the bottom and sides with linoleum for ease of cleaning.   Most of the work was in chiseling the grout off - I didn't make the reptile den to be temporary, that's for sure. 

It's finally finished. The Little Bits only had to spend three days in a plastic container. They are settled and seem happy. I'll post more pictures shortly, as soon as I can get them all together (I took some on a regular camera, some from my phone, and some with my iPad).

BTW: the wires aren't in the tank - they're hanging outside the class. The glass makes for great visibility, but it's harder to keep it warm (hense, two heat sources). It has a glass top and back, and I made plexiglass sliding doors (from the reptile days). It's sitting in the window and I'm surprised how much they try to look out. It's been like a private TV channel for the cats.