18 week old chicks eating feathers - they're on layer pellets now

[The Zoo]

because I ran out of starter (only 2 kinds of food where I live, starter and layer).

The hen is not laying eggs yet - should I run out and buy some starter for them? I've read that eating feathers is a sign of protein deficiency. Starter has more protein than layer?

 

[wawafiveseven]

Yes, Buy the layer feed. Layer feed has more protein than starter feed and your chickie need more protein in her diet. Shes a little more than 4 months so she should start laying soon.
Make sure that she has enough protein in her diet when she starts laying or else she will start to eat her eggs. Strange but true. Hoped that helped