Chicks not coming out of the heat brooder

[Happy Helper]

My chicks hatched yesterday and maybe last night. I took them out this morning and put them under the heat pad. Just a few have come out. I have laid some food near their pad and some have come out to eat. I dipped some chicks beaks in the water but they have not been very interested so far. I am thinking that I will wait a few hours maybe later this afternoon and see if they become more active. If not, I think I will remove the heat pad out and get them active. This has never happened to me before. Any ideas how I should approach this problem?

 

[sourland]

Chicks that have hatched that recently don't need to eat and drink yet. Give them time.

 

[Happy Helper]

Thanks, It's just what I thought. They are getting more active now and starting to peck at the food. Not really drinking yet. I have never had trouble with them drinking. Once one finds and tries the water the rest seem to follow thought.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Any ideas how I should approach this problem?

My preferred approach is to get some appropriate fruit (strawberries are in season down here, but banana can be a good choice) cut it up and put it on a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Then enjoy that while you leave the incubator alone. I don't know if this will help with your stress or not. It would me.

Before the chicks hatch they absorb the yolk. They can live off of that yolk for 72 hours or more without eating or drinking. This enables a broody hen to keep incubating the later eggs instead of having to take the first to hatch off of the nest looking for food and water. Chicks will usually eat and drink some during this phase but they don't have to.

I've noticed with my broody hens that the chicks typically spend a lot of time under the broody hen the first day or two after she brings them off of the nest. They may need the extra warmth for that time period. But after a day or two they are running all over. Mine usually do the same in my incubator. The first day or two they spend a lot of time in the heated area but after that they roam a lot more.

From what you describe I do not see any issues to worry about.

 

[Happy Helper]

Your correct, they are coming out now and are drinking their water and messing with the food. It's been two or three years since I hatched eggs so I have forgotten lots that I should know. I have just recently gotten back on this site and have always valued the answers that I receive when I have questions. I also notice and remember that your advise has always been "right on" and valuable. Thank you.