First time with chicks

[Nectarine]

We have a silkie sitting on some eggs that are hopefully fertile (we have a rooster but he’s a prick). I’ve seen many things saying that you have to seperate them from the flock and others that say you don’t have to, I’ve also seen things saying that you don’t even have to feed the chicks chick starter. The people who we got our chickens from didn’t seperate them but I’m not sure what they fed them. I’m pretty sure the due date will be pretty soon as I remember seeing her sit on them a bit before my duckling hatched but I’m not prepared at all
Any advice?

 

[nuthatched]

Have you candled them at all?
Some people separate them if the nest would be hard for the chicks to get to, like if the nest requires momma to jump to, so the chicks don't get stuck somewhere and get cold. Momma usually does a good job defending her babies but if you think there will be an issue somewhere, separate them.
Chick feed is good for new hatchlings since it's small enough for them to eat, don't feed layer feed but if you use Flockraiser/all flock, you can run in a blender for a fee seconds to make the bits smaller.

 

[Nectarine]

Have you candled them at all?
Some people separate them if the nest would be hard for the chicks to get to, like if the nest requires momma to jump to, so the chicks don't get stuck somewhere and get cold. Momma usually does a good job defending her babies but if you think there will be an issue somewhere, separate them.
Chick feed is good for new hatchlings since it's small enough for them to eat, don't feed layer feed but if you use Flockraiser/all flock, you can run in a blender for a fee seconds to make the bits smaller.

No I haven’t candled them cause I don’t really want to bother her, the nest is something our chickens made with left over hay in the corner of their coop so the chicks can get there easily and we only have layer feed but one of us is going to the next town over and I’ll see if she can get flockraiser/all flock feed thank you!

 

[Huntmaster]

No I haven’t candled them cause I don’t really want to bother her, the nest is something our chickens made with left over hay in the corner of their coop so the chicks can get there easily and we only have layer feed but one of us is going to the next town over and I’ll see if she can get flockraiser/all flock feed thank you!

You can feed the flockraiser/all flock with higher protein % to all your birds without the layer feed, just need to supply oyster or egg shell on the side for extra calcium for laying hens to get as they need. As your rooster and new chicks don't need the extra calcium in layer feed and all birds can eat the same feed. But yes your new chicks need the higher protein feed either all flock or chick starter around 20%. Most layer feeds are around 16%

 

[Nectarine]

You can feed the flockraiser/all flock with higher protein % to all your birds without the layer feed, just need to supply oyster or egg shell on the side for extra calcium for laying hens to get as they need. As your rooster and new chicks don't need the extra calcium in layer feed and all birds can eat the same feed. But yes your new chicks need the higher protein feed either all flock or chick starter around 20%. Most layer feeds are around 16%

So I’m right so long as the chicks have enough protein and the layers enough calcium :0?