3 year old hen eating chick starter feed??

[celia501]

I recently put my 5 month old chicks with my 3 year old girl, Viper. Since they are supposed to be eating different food (chick started for the babies and egg layer for Viper) I have both types of food in their space. The babies do not eat Viper's food because I put it where they can't reach it. However, Viper has taken to eating the chick's starter food, she really enjoys it and won't stop eating it. Is it okay that she is eating it, will it harm her/make her unhealthy? She is still eating her food but she likes the babies's food better.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Chick Starter won't hurt the adult hen, if you don't already you'll probably want to put out oyster shell so she can eat want she needs of that (the chicks will leave it alone)t. A lot of people with mixed flocks will feed an All Ages or Flock Raiser type food to everyone and just have oyster shell on the side for the laying hens.

 

[celia501]

Thank you, and she does have oyster shells but she doesn't really like them.