Lifters sticking
 

Over the last 3 weeks I have only started my car to pull it out of the garage due to a kitchen Reno, so that it wouldn’t get covered in saw dust. Probably 12 times. The last time I started it I noticed a slight ticking noise, that I assumed was a sticking lifter, today I took it for a good drive bringing the engine up to temp. The ticking noise went away, Could the lifters drain, or are they filled as soon as the engine is started?
99 with 91000 km

How long did the noise last? One or two seconds at startup can be considered normal.
The early 5 chain cars can be noisier, though it’s typically chain tensioners that are the source of the noise rather than lifters.
Not saying that lifters can’t be noisy; they can bind and make racket too.
My car does the startup rattle if it sits for more than a day. It sounds bad but apparently is normal for the car.