teaching to drink?

[chicknmania]

Lady at the feed mill says we need to dip the chick's beaks in water to teach
them to drink. Have never had chicks hatch in the bator bf so is this necessary?
Baby is less than 24 hours old, hasn't eaten yet or drunk anything. WE have
clean pebbles in the waterer to prevent drowning accidents.

 

[BrattishTaz]

Once your chicks are dry and running around, you do need to teach them to drink and eat.

Edited to add: Don't panic if they don't eat right away. Their yolk sacs provide nutrients for the first couple of days.

 

[farmgirl70]

I'm 40 years old, born and raised on a farm with every animal under the sun and I have never had to teach a baby chick how to eat and drink. It's called instinct, when they get hungry and/or thirsty they will do it fine on their own. If they are in poor health, they might need assistance/special care but otherwise they will figure it out.

 

[chicknmania]

Quote:
That's what I remembered. I know they stay under mama for the first day or so, anyway.
I am a brand new mother hen, though...always relied on the hens before now...

 

[BellevueOmlet]

I like to help them out and show them the water. You might not need to but the waterers are not natural so their instincts do not assist them in finding the water right away. You can let them eventually find it or just get them going and show one where to dirnk and the others will follow.

 

[cobra2411]

I got day old chicks and upon placing them into my temporary brooder I dunked each one's beak in the water and that was it. They didn't drink right away but they're all drinking just fine now. Instinct should kick in but they also have a momma that drinks they can watch in nature. Wouldn't over worry it though.