HELP! Chicks just hatched ~ how do I separate feed?

[Digger's my fav]

My hens just hatched chicks. How do you separate the feed, starter vs layer? Or does it matter? I am a complete novice, if you can't tell already.

 

[spook]

Well, at this point I have 1 chick with 1 hen, so I have been giving starter mash and grower feed. Basically the way I see it, the hen is not "laying" right now, so just regaining weight and health is what she needs. If there is a little crumb of the grower, it is not going to harm your babies.
Good luck!

 

[Judy]

Hens do fine on starter or grower. Chicks should not eat layer.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Hey Kim! I'm so glad you joined BYC.

I also feed the momma's chick feed when they have chicks. It has the right amount of protein to gain back the weight she lost while she was sitting on her eggs.

 

[Mahonri]

No layer for the momma so if they are in the coop with other chickens, you'll need to separate them.

 

[pixie74943]

I wouldnt trust this advice unless someone a bit more experienced backs it up BUT..

I heard Hens shouldnt eat medicated starter. Not sure if that was because its bad for them, or it gets in the eggs.

But I also heard that if chicks grow up under a broody instead of in an incubator/brooder that they dont need medicated starter.

So on that logic, you could feed them both unmedicated starter feed.