Hello Hives,
Yesterday, I shared the exciting news that I had brought home 18 day-old chicks to restart my small poultry journey. You can click Here to see my first post about my chicks. Today, I want to give an update on how they spent their very first night in their new cage. The first few days are always the most important when raising chicks because this is the period that determines how well they will adapt to their new environment.
The weather has been quite cold, so keeping them warm has become my biggest priority. Since I don't have an electric brooder, I have continued using a charcoal pot to provide heat inside the brooding area. It may not be the most advanced method, but it has always worked for me as long as I monitor it carefully. My goal is to make sure the chicks remain comfortable throughout the night because cold stress can easily weaken young birds.
This morning, I was happy to see that all 18 chicks made it through their first night safely despite the heavy rainfall through the night. They looked active, moved around freely, and responded well whenever I approached the cage. That alone gave me confidence that they are settling in nicely.
Another thing that made me smile was seeing them already recognizing their feed. Instead of waiting for me to guide them, they were already pecking at the feed on their own. Watching such tiny chicks quickly learn where to eat is always interesting. It shows that they are adapting well to their new surroundings.
However, I also noticed a small problem that needs to be addressed as early as possible. The tray feeder I'm currently using is causing too much feed wastage. The chicks keep stepping inside it and scattering the feed around the cage. With the current cost of poultry feed, every handful matters, so allowing that much waste is not something I can ignore.
I plan to replace the tray feeder with a better-designed chick feeder as soon as possible. A proper feeder will reduce wastage, keep the feed cleaner, and make it easier for every chick to eat comfortably. Small improvements like this can make a big difference in raising healthy birds while also reducing unnecessary expenses.
So far, I'm grateful that the first night went smoothly. I hope the coming days will be just as successful as I continue caring for these little birds. I'll keep sharing my progress, the challenges I face, and the lessons I learn along the way. I appreciate everyone following this journey with me.
Thanks for Reading
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