Baby chicks not eating or drinking water

[mym1414]

Hello, I just received some baby chicks today. I dipped their beaks in water a couple times as soon as I took them out and watched them taste it. It’s been 2 hours and I haven’t seen them go back to the water bowl . They also are pecking a lot at the paper towels on the floor while walking around but don’t seem to care about their food. I sprinkled it around and they peck at it occasionally but for the most part leave it alone . Is this normal? I would assume that they’d be thirsty and hungry from being sent through the post office. They also seem to be warm because they started out under the brooder plate and came out a few mins after to explore.

 

[BoundlessLove]

This is their new home and they are having to adjust.
The water should be room temp or slightly warm when you fill up the waterer.
Just keep dipping their beaks in the feed and water a couple times a day.
They will be fine.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Try wetting the starter feed into a wet mash.
Depending on hatch day and delivery time, they may still be content with the yolk they absorbed which they can survive off of up to 72 hours.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Before the chicks hatch they absorb the yolk. They can live off of that yolk for more than 72 hours. Sounds like your chicks arrived well before those 72 hours were up.

I've had a chick that did not learn to drink water even after its beak was dipped. It also did not learn by watching the other chicks drink water. I hatched those chicks myself. On the fourth day after hatch I started to hear a plaintiff peep from the incubator. One chick was slowly peeping quite loud, you knew something was wrong just by listening. After a few minutes I tried dipping its beak in the water again. It immediately started drinking and drank a lot.

Are you hearing that plaintive peeping that tells you that something is wrong? If not, then it is extremely likely nothing is wrong.