Chicks suddenly forgot how to use water dish??

[RosemaryDuck]

This...is so strange . My 2 5 week old chicks, Omelette & scramble have recently in the past 2 days just completely forgotten how to use their waterer.

Yesterday I went in to check their food and water. They both ran up peeping and acting like the world was ending. I checked and their waterer was full (it's a flip one with a mason jar) with water at the bottom. Food was full (I refill it throughout the day). I quickly picked up the waterer to check it and they both ran over and started frantically drinking (even though it was full the entire time). I was confused but left them and checked again a few hours later. It was still 3/4s full when I checked the 2nd time, and again they both acted like they just realized it was even there.

Today I'm having the same issue. It's literally been in the same spot for 5 weeks. They've been drinking from it! Why suddenly are they dehydrating themselves? Are they frightened of it? Should I replace it with a bowl? What is happening??

 

[50-45-1]

I think they are eating and drinking just fine.
They are likely connecting the sight of you with the arrival of a good friend that possibly will be bringing treets?
Have you been bringing them special things?
Maybe they are just glad to see you!

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I think they are eating and drinking just fine.
They are likely connecting the sight of you with the arrival of a good friend that possibly will be bringing treets?
Have you been bringing them special things?
Maybe they are just glad to see you!

Usually I go to the brooder multiple times a day to change their food and water and keep everything clean. Maybe they're just associating me with food now? Though that doesn't explain them only drinking when I show them the waterer again.

 

[saysfaa]

This is a long shot but in children and puppies... it is a real thing for them to master a skill then lose it when they move on to another skill. Relearning goes a lot faster than the original learning did, though. The muscle memory and neural patterns are there, if the skill is practiced again before too long. It is just the accessing part that glitches sometimes.

Maybe chicks do this all the time but usually not every chick in the brooder at the same time so they relearn from each other. Or they reteach themselves before we notice because they are exploring their environment enough.