When do I offer water to a new baby?

[Jennn27]

My chick just hatched a few hours ago. When do I offer water/food?

 

[Poultry parent]

when it has dried off

 

[AmyLynn2374]

My chick just hatched a few hours ago. When do I offer water/food?

I have electrolyte enhanced water and starter food in my brooder available to them from the minute they go in the brooder. When to put them in the brooder depends on your comfort level. Mine go into the brooder as soon as they are up and moving around the bator. Once they are active they are in the brooder. Many move chicks to the brooder as they become dry and fluff up and others leave them in the bator until the hatch is completely over or 2-3 days depending what comes first.

 

[Jennn27]

I have electrolyte enhanced water and starter food in my brooder available to them from the minute they go in the brooder. When to put them in the brooder depends on your comfort level. Mine go into the brooder as soon as they are up and moving around the bator. Once they are active they are in the brooder. Many move chicks to the brooder as they become dry and fluff up and others leave them in the bator until the hatch is completely over or 2-3 days depending what comes first.

OK. The baby has been mobile for a hour or so now. Dried completely and has been moved to a more semi-permanent home. I just gave it a bit of water, but I am afraid of it drowning, so I don't want to leave it in there. I was thinking about maybe scrambling an egg and adding some electrolytes and water to it?

 

[Poultry parent]

if you are worried about the chick falling into the water and drowning you can put some marbles into the waterer

 

[AmyLynn2374]

OK. The baby has been mobile for a hour or so now. Dried completely and has been moved to a more semi-permanent home. I just gave it a bit of water, but I am afraid of it drowning, so I don't want to leave it in there. I was thinking about maybe scrambling an egg and adding some electrolytes and water to it?

Open dishes should never be used in a chick brooder. Marbles or sterilized rocks should be placed in the water to keep the chick from drowning. A new chick may or may not be interested in food for the first 24-48 hours. A lot will depend how long before hatch the yolk was absorbed. I have chicks that are eating within the first 24 hours, some not until the begining of the second day after hatch, but almost all of my chicks are drinking withing the first 12-24 hours after hatch.

 

[Jennn27]

Thank you! Yeah when it was born, most of the yolk sac was absorbed. There was a tiny little bit left....about the size of a pencil-top eraser.