Early Feeding

Early Feeding of Chicks after Hatching

The newly hatch chicks should get immediate solid feed for early absorption of yolk sac. I earlier days, chicks were starved for 5-7 hrs after placing at brooding, misconception is that delay in early feeding helps in absorption of yolk. Recent research has shown that chicks require solid feed as soon as possible to stimulate the yolk absorption. The yolk sac contains lipids and protein only whereas chicks requires solid feed to promote the main changes in physical structure of digestive system and its secretions essential for digestion of nutrients in this period. Immediate solid feed after hatch is required to stimulate the absorption of the yolk.