Broody hen and baby chick

[chub_the_chick]

Hello, my broody hen has been sitting on some eggs, and two days ago one of the eggs hatched! But Im unsure what to put into my feeder, I have chick starter in it right now, but I was wondering is that okay for the hen, or will she need the layer feed she normally has?

Thanks!

 

[sourland]

The chick starter will be fine for the broody hen. Hopefully more eggs will hatch.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hello, my broody hen has been sitting on some eggs, and two days ago one of the eggs hatched! But Im unsure what to put into my feeder, I have chick starter in it right now, but I was wondering is that okay for the hen, or will she need the layer feed she normally has?

Thanks!

Chick feed is okay for the hen. She won't lay again until she weans the chick

 

[CindyinSD]

Broody hens aren't laying so they don't need the added calcium in layer feed. If you have some layers, some chicks, maybe some roosters or other non-layers, then feeding a layer feed to your whole flock can hurt the non-layers. All-flock or multi-flock is good, or chick developer (waterfowl will need supplementation with niacin—brewers yeast is good and cannot be oversupplied (thus safe)). Turkeys need additional nutrients (lysine & methionine) & higher protein which are present in meat bird, game bird and all flock.

 

[CindyinSD]

Broody hens aren't laying so they don't need the added calcium in layer feed. If you have some layers, some chicks, maybe some roosters or other non-layers, then feeding a layer feed to your whole flock can hurt the non-layers. All-flock or multi-flock is good, or chick developer (waterfowl will need supplementation with niacin—brewers yeast is good and cannot be oversupplied (thus safe)). Turkeys need additional nutrients (lysine & methionine) & higher protein which are present in meat bird, game bird and all flock.

If you have active layers, supply calcium separately; they'll take what they need. Oyster shell is popular. In addition I save the crushed egg shells and feed them back. (These alone are not sufficient, though.)

 

[chub_the_chick]

Thanks everyone for the help!