Is this normal? My chicks are almost 24 hours old, but don't seem to be eating or drinking much.

[Rainbows Chicks]

I understand that hatching was a strenuous activity and expected that they would rest a lot, but I thought that I'd read about the peeps being very hungry etc. when first brought to the brooder box... Can anyone enlighten me? They aren't excessively lethargic or anything, either...they get up and jump about a little bit every so often, then just lie down where they are and rest for a little bit. It's also possible that they have eaten when we weren't here. (possibly...?) Also worth noting, is that both have had one poop, each, since hatching out.
I'm feeding them Chick Starter, from the Coop Country Store (our local farm services/feed store). It's tiny little beige/brown pellets; I don't need to wet it do I? Thanks, everyone, for all your help and advice.

 

[KeeperOfChicken]

I am no expert but I know they absorb the yolk so that they do not need to eat for 24+ hours.

My first hatch came out, fluffed up and I moved them to the brooder. They all did seem to start showing interest in it expect one. I did water down the feed to make it a mash for the benefits of the little one as someone here told me to do. All the chickens thought this was just the best thing in the whole world.

You might try it just to get their interest peeked in the food and that way also you know they are getting water too.

As long as they aren't lethargic and blah, I would give them a little more time to adjust to life outside the shell.

Good luck, its so exciting to have new babies!

 

[Rainbows Chicks]

Super! Thanks, so much, for the super quick reply!

 

[KeeperOfChicken]

I have eggs hatching this weekend so I live on here lol

Hopefully some others will jump in too for even more tips but I remember laughing so hard when they were eating the mash, they were going crazy over it and of course the little one had to see what all the fuss was about.

We lost that baby but it certainly was not caused by not eating! It ate like a piggy, only the mash though, it must have had some internal problem we did not know about.

Anyway, off to try and fix my humidity problem... again.

 

[mstricer]

Most of the time they don't eat for 72 hrs. Then not that much.

 

[Rainbows Chicks]

I realize, now, that what I remembered reading somewhere, was that the chicks needed to be offered/shown the food and water , immediately upon removal from the incubator...then, I assumed the rest - that they should/would eat voraciously (like we humans generally due after birth - my babes both nursed hungrily, very soon after delivery..

). But, of course, all you folks' "voices of reason" made perfect sense when I read your responses and, sure enough, my little chicks started mowing down (when they got the mood to eat) - by about 36 hours from hatch. And "KeeperOfChicken"..... Yup, they LOVE the mash I mixed up with a bit of warm water!

It sure puts my mind at ease to see them gobbling it up!

Thanks again

 

[cva34]

The way I understand it is when the Maker did chic's he was thinking.They will all not hatch at the same time.Mom will not be able to take them out to eat/drink (MOM got hatching to do) till all/most hatch .So MAKER came up with the YOKE (no joke) that would be absorbed into chic at hatching time. This gives them a big meal/drink to sustain them while the rest of their siblings are hatching (up to 72 hrs).Then MOM takes them all out to Eat and Drink and GROW. Yes when you incubate and they become dry ,some within a few hours will eat and drink but lots don't and and don't need to....this is my understanding and explanation..cva34