Newly Hatched Chicks- how to "teach" them to eat?

You gently press thier beaks into the water and then food......they will pick it up quickly!

 

He doesn't need to eat right away. If he's with a mama hen, she will do all the teaching that he needs!

 

They figure out eating very quickly. If you already dipped his beak in the water, he'll figure the food out on his own. You are giving him chick starter crumbles, right?

 

Good Luck with them....and Congratulations!!

 

Quote:Mama hen will do all the mothering he will need. You just sit back and enjoy!

 

You do not need to teach it to eat. They do not even need to eat for 3 days, as they are absorbing the yolk for nutrition. The first 2 - 3 days they sleep most of the time.

 

Congrats on your little one and how cute running around on his own Good luck on all the rest of the hatch. I have raised chickens from brand new from the US Mail but never have had my hen hatch one of hers so I let my silkie sit on two silkie eggs and 3 leghorn. So last Friday exactly day 21 one of the silkies hatched I was SOOOOO excited and watching very closely that all was well well I knew the leghorn eggs were maybe 2 or three days later hatch and I was worried that the little guy wasnt getting any water or food so I put a little water and food next to nesting box on day 3ish of his birth. Ok well got home from work on day 4 and the little guy was GONE!!! I searched everywhere............................ My mind was wondering what could of happened there before work and gone when I got home. He could of got out of the pen or something maybe a rat? got in. Now there is about an 11 inch drop from the hen house to floor. I knew I should of just got the baby and raise her separately but I just thought mamma would teach him but I was wrong. To high of a drop wasn it? the little guy probably jumped down and got out of the run with a small hole there was I would of thought mamma would of jumped down and tended to him. I was away for maybe 6 hours. Ok I had a lesson BUT guess what I just came in this evening and a leghorn egg was hatched. I'll be darned if I will let anything happen to this guy. I plugged up the hole for tonight while I ask you guys what to do. Thank you and again this thread was an answer already saying mamma will teach to eat and drink thank you. Good luck on all the rest of your eggs.