Incubator hatched chicks drinking water for the first time . . .

[scoopy82]

I currently have 21 incubator hatched chicks in the brooder and I'm just wondering how people give them the idea about drinking water and eating the chick food. Most of my lot seem to be super curious about the food and have picked up straight away on eating it, but I'm just a little worried about the water situation. I have seen a few drink, and dipped a few beaks into the water when they were first put in - but i didn't do all of them in hope that the others would see some drinking and catch on. What does everyone else do? Do they pretty much work it out for themselves or do they all need to be shown?

 

[Shannon33]

I do the beak dip when I have had chicks in the house. But when mama hatches them outside I don't do anything so I am assuming they do learn from watching others.

 

[gryeyes]

They do learn from each other, but over the next couple of days I would be sure to watch to make sure they're all drinking. If you suspect one or two aren't, just dip their beaks in the water. It's never too late to show 'em how. But you'll probably discover they learn from each other.

...especially if you let the waterer get empty, because when you fill it and put it back in the brooder, every chick will gather 'round to drink.....

Guess how I know this.

 

[steelshot]

I don't beak dip all of them, like Shannon said I believe they quickly learn from the others. Good Luck