Assuming you have a Kohler or Kawasaki engine on your machine the proper method of checking the oil is with the dipstick unscrewed and at it's lowest point unscrewed - so unscrew and turn it backwards until it drops down to its lowest point.
Your oil consumption on a new engine should be negligible, but since your not sure it was full to begin with I'd wait before you draw any conclusions. It would be smoking noticeably if it consumed that much oil.