So, our hen, Henny Penny hatched out her five eggs in the period of time between yesterday and today, and we haven't had chick starter or chick grower since last spring/summer, so we gave them a chick feeder with some layer plus in it, and 15 minutes ago me and Henny Penny taught the babies to eat it, ad they seem to be doing well, but I wanted to make sure that it's OK to give them the layer plus. ~Erner P.S. I'll upload pic ASAP.
I think the calcium in layer feed is not good for them. Also the protein is too low. I would get some chick starter. In the short term you most likely have done no harm. But don't keep 'em on it.
It's better to give the mother hen chick starter verses giving the chicks layer feed. While the hen can get by short term on a medicated chick starter, the chicks cannot thrive on a layer feed. Layer feed is not formulated for new born chicks, the calcium levels are way too high as was mentioned. The two major benefits to chick starter is most often it's medicated to help prevent coccidiosis, and it has the proper protein levels for growing and developing chicks. Congrats on your new babies!
