Newly hatched chicks can survive their first 24 to 48 hours on nutrients absorbed from their yolk sac, but they should have access to fresh water and chick starter feed as soon as possible after hatching. About 60% of the yolk sac’s nutrients are used up on the first day alone, with absorption dropping sharply after that. Getting feed and water in front of your chicks early gives their digestive system a head start and supports faster, healthier growth.
The Yolk Sac: Your Chick’s Built-In First Meal
Before a chick even hatches, it absorbs the remaining egg yolk into its abdomen around day 19 of incubation. This internal yolk sac acts as a nutrient reserve that can sustain the chick for up to five days after hatch, though it’s not meant to be a long-term food source. On the first day of life, chicks burn through roughly 60% of the yolk sac’s contents. By day two, they use about 40% of what’s left, then 35% on day three, and just 25% on day four. The yolk stalk, which connects the sac to the intestines, stays open for about three days, allowing nutrients to pass directly into the gut.
This reserve is why hatcheries can ship day-old chicks through the mail without them starving. But waiting the full five days to offer food is a mistake. Chicks that eat sooner develop stronger digestive tracts and gain weight faster than those that rely solely on yolk reserves. Offer feed and water within the first few hours of placing chicks in the brooder.
Water Comes First
Before your chicks even look at feed, they need water. Dip each chick’s beak gently into the waterer when you place it in the brooder so it learns where to drink. Use room-temperature or slightly warm water for the first day or two.
If your chicks arrived by mail or seem lethargic, an electrolyte solution can help them recover. You can buy commercial poultry electrolytes at most feed stores, or make an emergency version at home: dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in 1 cup of warm water. Offer this for no more than 24 hours, then switch to plain fresh water. Electrolytes are a short-term boost, not an everyday drink.
Chick Starter Feed: The Foundation
Chick starter feed is a complete, crumbled feed designed to be the only food your chicks need for their first several weeks. For egg-laying breeds (pullets), starter feed typically contains 18 to 22% protein and should be fed from hatch through 6 weeks of age. For meat breeds (broilers), protein levels run slightly higher at 20 to 23%, and the starter phase lasts about 4 weeks before switching to a grower formula.
Starter feed comes in two forms: medicated and non-medicated. Medicated starter contains amprolium, which is not an antibiotic. It works by blocking a nutrient that coccidia parasites need to survive, preventing coccidiosis, a common intestinal disease that causes diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and can kill chicks. If your chicks were not vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery, medicated feed for the first six weeks is a smart precaution. If they were vaccinated, use non-medicated feed, since amprolium can interfere with the vaccine’s effectiveness.
Scatter a small amount of starter feed on a paper towel or shallow tray for the first day or two so chicks can find it easily. Once they’ve learned to eat, switch to a proper chick feeder to reduce waste and keep the feed clean. Chicks should have access to starter feed around the clock for at least the first few weeks.
Switching to Grower Feed
Most chicks are ready to transition from starter to grower feed around six weeks of age, though breed size and growth rate can shift this slightly. Grower feed has a lower protein content (around 19 to 20% for broilers, 14 to 16% for pullets) and is formulated for the 6 to 16 week growth phase. Don’t switch abruptly. Mix increasing amounts of grower feed into the starter over about 10 days to let your chicks’ digestive systems adjust and, in the case of medicated starter, to allow them to build natural immunity to coccidia during the transition.
When and How to Introduce Treats
Starter feed alone covers all of a chick’s nutritional needs, so treats are optional during the early weeks. If you want to start offering extras, wait until chicks are at least one to two weeks old, and keep treats to no more than 10% of their total diet. Good options include:
- Hard-boiled eggs: High in protein and easy for tiny chicks to eat when mashed. Always cook eggs thoroughly before feeding.
- Dried black soldier fly larvae: An excellent protein source that you can crush between your fingers to make them easier for small beaks to handle.
- Ground oats: Run rolled oats through a food processor until they reach a cornmeal-like texture.
- Dandelion leaves and flowers: The entire plant is safe and protein-rich.
- Watermelon: Feed it on the rind rather than cutting it into pieces to prevent choking, and always remove seeds first.
Any treat that isn’t finely ground starter feed requires your chicks to have grit available. Chicks don’t have teeth; they use small stones held in their gizzard to grind food. If you start offering treats around two weeks of age, set out a small dish of chick-sized grit (not adult grit, which is too large). Let them take what they need on their own. If your chicks are eating only starter feed, grit isn’t necessary yet.
Signs of Nutritional Problems
A well-fed chick on quality starter feed rarely develops deficiencies, but problems can show up if feed is old, stored improperly, or if chicks fill up on treats instead of their complete feed. A few symptoms to watch for:
Chicks that develop curled toes and have trouble walking may be deficient in riboflavin (vitamin B2), which affects nerve function in the legs. Poor feathering, slow growth, and reduced appetite can point to a vitamin B12 shortage. Chicks that seem uncoordinated or wobbly may lack vitamin E. These issues are uncommon with fresh, name-brand starter feed, but they’re worth recognizing. If you notice any of these signs, check your feed’s expiration date and make sure treats haven’t displaced the starter in your chicks’ diet.
Practical Feeding Tips
Keep feeders and waterers clean. Chicks will step in everything, and wet, soiled feed grows mold and bacteria quickly. Wash waterers daily and replace feed that gets damp or contaminated with droppings. Position feeders and waterers at the chicks’ back height as they grow, raising them gradually to reduce mess.
Avoid feeding raw eggs, avocado, dried or raw beans, chocolate, or anything moldy. Greens from the nightshade family (tomato and potato leaves) are also off-limits. When in doubt, stick with starter feed. It’s formulated to give your chicks everything they need, and simplicity is your best tool during those critical first weeks.