Is there a difference between brooder chicks and hatchery chicks?

[Lisa202]

My broody just hatched 2 little bantam chicks on Monday. At the same time, my hatchery silkie chicks arrived in the mail on Wednesday.

The hatchery chicks are eating and drinking...a lot.

I have seen the broody chicks eat, but not as much, as I'm not out there watching all the time. I did see one actually steal a waxworm from mommy the other day, and I do have med chick feed in there for them. I even sprinkled some under the mommy so they could snack while keeping warm. But I don't know if they are eating as much as the hatchery chicks.


So why are the hatchery chicks so much bigger than the broody chicks? Could it be that the broody chicks just don't eat as much? And could that be a bad thing? (I'm nervous b/c last month I lost a broody chick on the 5th day, and it was small too)

 

[muddyhorse]

babies have about 3 days worth of yolk saved up in their little tummies. they don't eat a lot at first. as long as they are eating and drinking I wouldn't worry. If you notice they are lethargic or peeping in a stressed way then I would be concerned.