*please help* chicks scared of water and won’t eat chick feed

[Wishing4Wings]

I don’t have any milk jugs at the moment, but I doubt they’ll even think of going near the jug as they even get scared and avoid any new container or object I put in their container

Very normal for them to be frightened by new things. Might take a day or two to realize it won't eat them, so just give it time. One of them will get brave enough to drink.
You have been given a lot of good advice here. I think your improvised feed sounded great. Maybe add a little more plant material... some chopped broccoli or kale, even grass. They need small pebbles (large sand) in their crop to help digest all the food, so sprinkle some in their pen. They will eat what they need.
Are you planning on keeping them?

 

[sm28]

Were the chicks feathered when you found them?

Yes. Here are some pics of the first day I found them.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Let them see you pouring the water in it and instead of dunking their beak tap on the water dish . If you dont have nails use a pencil or such.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

awww they still had their egg tooth ! just hatched so how long you have had them is how old they are Right Wishing, Im seeing the egg tooth?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Yes. Here are some pics of the first day I found them. View attachment 1280556View attachment 1280560

Oh, they were tiny, only a few days old! Still have their egg tooth.
You did great raising them. They look really good.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Oh, they were tiny, only a few days old! Still have their egg tooth.
You did great raising them. They look really good.

LOL

 

[Granny Hatchet]

thats why they are feathering out fast and love his hand. op is using a auto off heating pad.

 

[sm28]

Very normal for them to be frightened by new things. Might take a day or two to realize it won't eat them, so just give it time. One of them will get brave enough to drink.
You have been given a lot of good advice here. I think your improvised feed sounded great. Maybe add a little more plant material... some chopped broccoli or kale, even grass. They need small pebbles (large sand) in their crop to help digest all the food, so sprinkle some in their pen. They will eat what they need.
Are you planning on keeping them?

Thanks for the suggestions on how to improve what I’ve been doing. I used the top of my old guinea pig cage to cover protect and enclose the chicks while I let them roam a bit in different parts of my yard. I read about chickens needing grit so I tried to put them in areas with dirt and gravel. As for keeping the chicks, I’m really not sure. I really really want them to have a chance at life but I don’t know if they’re old enough to release and hope they can survive on their own alone. I don’t really have the right supplies to keep them forvever right now, so I might keep them until they’re big enough and strong enough to survive? I just don’t want to be harming them or restricting their chances of having a better life on their own in the wild since I have little to no experience or knowledge about caring and raising chickens.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

A jar lid would make a good water dish for them. They'll eventually walk in it and figure out what to do.

They must be closer to 3-4 weeks, which means they feathered out fast. Good protein in the cat food!

 

[sm28]

That's why I was wondering how feathered they were. I think they are 5-6+ weeks old. Chickens there are fairly small there, especially the feral ones.
Their mama had them out and about, scratching and eating all sorts of things... grass, bugs, seeds, plants, fruit... whatever they could find, including drinking water. Those chicks won't drown. A simple crock or bowl will be fine for water.

Ok I’ll try to find one. I’ll have to finish trying all these things on the weekend as I’m currently a student and can’t be with them all day.