Feed for chicks

[ixnay]

I have 5 one-week-old beautiful mutt chicks (EE daddy, various mommies), brooded by my white rock. I have not kept anybody separate from the rest of the flock, except for chick-only access to the starter feed.

Here's my question: Mommy bird seems to be encouraging the chicks to eat under the layer feeder (which is raised up so that the chicks can't directly feed out of it). How much danger is there if the chicks get some layer feed? I understand that too much calcium can be bad for their little kidneys.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[LauraSBale]

I have the same thing going on,
I learned from some one here,
mix equal parts of starter with layer
and i put it a feeder that mom and baby's use.
when there eating she keeps the chickens away.
plus she takes the baby for bug walks,

its so cute

 

[ixnay]

Thanks Laura. I'll try that. The grown-ups seem to want to get into the nursery area a lot - nosey bunch! Mom is doing a great job of keeping everyone in line. Yeah, the bug-walks are great!

 

[Chickenaddict]

As long as it is not the main source of feed the chick should be just fine. I have a leghorn hen raising up a chick with the flock and altho she has her own little spot with starter and water she sometimes finds layer crumbles for the chick, I opted not to worry about it because "Junior" seems to be doing just fine. Compared to the other chicks who hatched out at the same time as he did but raised in a brooder, he is much bigger and more feathered out than the chicks in the brooder.

 

[ixnay]

Thanks for the advice. The babies are 1 week old now, and ridiculously perky.

 

[TK Poultry]

ya just mix the layer and the grower and it will add protein to your feed for your hens and it will introduce the lil ones to layer win win dont see anything wrong!!!