Dumb question…should I wake them up?

[cktap62]

Hi, Brand new chick mom here! Brought them home today, put them in pen. Some ate and drank, now all sleeping (I hope) under the brooder. How often should they eat and drink? I think they are 1 day old. TIA for any advice!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Don't wake them. It is a lot of work getting out of an egg and they are tired. After they are rested, they'll be hungry and they'll eat. Just be patient as hard as that is.
They look content to me. That's what you are striving for.
Baby chicks do sleep a lot. The first couple days, they'll just flop over where they stand to nap.

 

[cktap62]

Thank you! They are more spread out now and look quite comfy napping.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Relax, I think you are doing great.

Before they hatch they absorb the yolk. They can live off of that yolk for over 72 hours without eating or drinking. That way the ones that hatch early can wait for the later ones to hatch. The hen does not need to take them off of the nest to look for food or drink. They can and often do eat and drink in that 72 hours if food and water is available but they do not have to.

I've noticed when a broody hen first brings chicks off of the nest they spend a fair amount of time under her. But by the third day they are running all over, really active. So try to be patient, I think you will soon be pleased.

 

[Fallenone05]

I purchased chicks from a farm supply store, brought them home, and put them in my brooder with a momma heating pad set up instead of a heat lamp.

I thought they were dead.

They slept for SO LONG compared to my other chicks, but I don't think they had any good rest with the constant heat lights on them at the store.

They finally woke up rested and rearing to go the next day, eating and drinking and being regular little chicks after.

 

[cktap62]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Relax, I think you are doing great.

Before they hatch they absorb the yolk. They can live off of that yolk for over 72 hours without eating or drinking. That way the ones that hatch early can wait for the later ones to hatch. The hen does not need to take them off of the nest to look for food or drink. They can and often do eat and drink in that 72 hours if food and water is available but they do not have to.

I've noticed when a broody hen first brings chicks off of the nest they spend a fair amount of time under her. But by the third day they are running all over, really active. So try to be patient, I think you will soon be pleased.

Thank you! Patience is not my strong suit but I’ll let them sleep!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For both @cktap62 and @Fallenone05, if you think that is stressful, wait till you walk out and see what appears to be all of your adult birds strewn across the property sprawled out on the ground motionless. It will look like a mass murder scene. You run up to investigate and they all jump up and move away.
Sometime in the morning or early afternoon when they have eaten their fill for a while, they want to dust bathe and stretch out in the sun. The entire flock will do this at the same time.
I've seen it countless times and still my first thought is that they are all dead.

 

[cktap62]

I purchased chicks from a farm supply store, brought them home, and put them in my brooder with a momma heating pad set up instead of a heat lamp.

I thought they were dead.

They slept for SO LONG compared to my other chicks, but I don't think they had any good rest with the constant heat lights on them at the store.

They finally woke up rested and rearing to go the next day, eating and drinking and being regular little chicks after.

Thank you! I hear happy little peeps in there so they must be ok.

 

[cktap62]

For both @cktap62 and @Fallenone05, if you think that is stressful, wait till you walk out and see what appears to be all of your adult birds strewn across the property sprawled out on the ground motionless. It will look like a mass murder scene. You run up to investigate and they all jump up and move away.
Sometime in the morning or early afternoon when they have eaten their fill for a while, they want to dust bathe and stretch out in the sun. The entire flock will do this at the same time.
I've seen it countless times and still my first thought is that they are all dead.

Oh my gosh, that would freak me out! I’m so excited for this new journey!

 

[The Moonshiner]