With the 4 we assisted, they were hatched May 5 and May 20th. We didn't even consider assisting until mid-July and it was obvious those 4 were just not picking up the eating thing and were seriously falling behind their siblings in weight. We went by clutch average weight and those refusing were in the range of 60 grams while their feeding clutchmates were hitting 100 grams or more (they had all been within grams of each other in weight at hatching).

1 of the 4 only had to have 1 assist and was off and hunting independently after that. Another one needed two assists (we feed every 5 days for the hatchlings) and got the idea that food was a good idea. The last two both ate independently a couple of days ago for the first time. One of them is the one that won't take live for some freaky reason. The only way that hatchling will eat is f/t off tongs apparently. Goofy baby! LOL

We had to assist feed some CH hatchlings last year. Out of 5 we got, we had to assist 2, 2 ate right off themselves and one passed away before we could help it. I can tell you though that the 2 that had to be assisted are doing wonderfully well and you'd never know now that they ever needed the help last year.

Don't rush to assist though. Do everything else first. It's stressful on the babies and something you don't want to rush into.