Can my hen eat chick starter

[Silkie Chicken]

I am keeping my silkie hen in with some of my chicks so she can keep them warm at night and teach them stuff. i have her in a building with them and only chick starter is it ok if she eats it or can it hurt her if i need to put chicken feed in the building for her will the chicks eat that or will that hurt them

 

[amberflea]

I let mine eat chick starter when they brood the babies themselves in a separate area. It's never been a problem for me.

 

[Silkie Chicken]

ok and my hen with them is a silkie and do u think it will even help to have her in with the chicks the chicks are 4 weeks the hen is not there mom but i thought maybe she will teach them stuff and keep them warm at night having the hen in there will that even help

 

[terryg]

A hen can eat chick starter, but a chick shouldn't eat laying hen feed. Laying hen feed has too much calcium and not enough protein for chicks. Chick feed isn't perfect for a hen -not enough calcium and too much protein - but for a short time it won't hurt her.

 

[Silkie Chicken]

do u think it will even help with the hen being with the chicks the are 4 weeks old and i thought the hen could teach the chicks stuff and keep them warm do u think i even need her with them she is not the mom of the chicks.

 

[SarahYoungner]

I have two Rode Island Reds that are already laying, and I have them in a pin with nine younger chicks, (4-7 weeks old). I want my Rode Island Reds to keep producing eggs normally but don't know what to do about food. They need laying pellets, right? But that's not good for the younger chickens. HELP!!!

 

[Silkie Chicken]

IDK sorry

 

[chefchick]

I have a mixed age flock right now. Everyone is eating the chick food, and I have a little feeder full of oyster shell out for them, too. the hens eat it, and the babies ignore it.

 

[MelbaQ]

do u think it will even help with the hen being with the chicks the are 4 weeks old and i thought the hen could teach the chicks stuff and keep them warm do u think i even need her with them she is not the mom of the chicks.

I have found that hens dont seem to care if the chicks are their own_ If they have the mama instinct. I have seen hens defend chicks, as if with their life, even though they did not hatch them.