Newly Hatched Chicks

[RileyB]

One of my hens has been broody and we were pretty sure none of the eggs were going to hatch. But last night we found two new baby chicks (and one dead one). I wasn't sure how to get the food and water into the nest box where the chicks could reach them, so I decided to separate the chicks into a brooder.
Should I have let them stay with their mother?
Also, how do I teach them to eat and drink? I dipped their beaks in the water, but don't know what to do about the food.

 

[Judy]

I would try putting the chicks back with the mama. If she seems hesitant about taking them put them under her after dark. She will take care of teaching them, keeping them warm, protecting them from any aggressive members of the flock, etc. All you have to do is change out the layer feed for chick feed. It won't hurt your flock to eat chick starter. Just provide oyster shell in a separate container for the laying hens.

If you decide to keep them in a brooder, our Learning Center tells how to manage young chicks without a mama. Just show them the feed the same way you did the water.

 

[RileyB]

So my flock can eat medicated chick feed? Won't that be poisonous to them?