My cute little chicks that are just over 5 weeks old have grown into feathered piglets. So much so that my initial feeder that I bought doesn't hold enough chick crumble to get through the day.
This afternoon, I swung by and bought a 7lb feeder, and made a platform for it that is a bit larger than the base. The height is just fine for them - it's near the same height as the old feeder.
OK, so I cleaned out all the shavings in the brooder, and laid down new bedding. I then put the new platform in along with the new feeder with feed in it. I then put in a small amount of chick grit and some dried meal worms (they've had them a few times before, just a treat once or twice a week) leading up to the new feeder, and stood back and watched. They're not scared as they're relaxing on the opposite end by the heat plate, but nobody has gotten too close to the new setup. I've read that chickens don't embrace change right away, and I'm not too worried as they emptied the smaller feeder today and got plenty to drink. Their water is down by the new feeder, and right now I'm waiting them out. They have about another two hours before the lights on the timer go off and the room goes totally dark.
Should I just let them sort it out over the rest of today, and if we still have issues in the morning, then try something different? They've come about halfway up to it, so they don't have much farther to go. I'm sure the one who earns the medal of valor for defeating the new feed monster will convince the others that it's OK, I'm just wondering how long to let them work it out.
Oh, I also should say I have a camera on the brooder pen, so I can view them from outside the room to watch the progress. That way they don't have me as a distraction in there.
This afternoon, I swung by and bought a 7lb feeder, and made a platform for it that is a bit larger than the base. The height is just fine for them - it's near the same height as the old feeder.
OK, so I cleaned out all the shavings in the brooder, and laid down new bedding. I then put the new platform in along with the new feeder with feed in it. I then put in a small amount of chick grit and some dried meal worms (they've had them a few times before, just a treat once or twice a week) leading up to the new feeder, and stood back and watched. They're not scared as they're relaxing on the opposite end by the heat plate, but nobody has gotten too close to the new setup. I've read that chickens don't embrace change right away, and I'm not too worried as they emptied the smaller feeder today and got plenty to drink. Their water is down by the new feeder, and right now I'm waiting them out. They have about another two hours before the lights on the timer go off and the room goes totally dark.
Should I just let them sort it out over the rest of today, and if we still have issues in the morning, then try something different? They've come about halfway up to it, so they don't have much farther to go. I'm sure the one who earns the medal of valor for defeating the new feed monster will convince the others that it's OK, I'm just wondering how long to let them work it out.
Oh, I also should say I have a camera on the brooder pen, so I can view them from outside the room to watch the progress. That way they don't have me as a distraction in there.
It's going to be a toss up who caves first, you or your chicks. My money would be on you if I had any to bet.
