Yes, that's right: it is a matter of how much calcium. All chickens need calcium, so every kind of complete chicken food has calcium. But laying hens need much MORE calcium than other chickens (about 3 times as much), so foods meant for laying hens have higher amounts than other chicken food.I assumed it would be like feeding layer pellets to a non laying bird, too much calcium and bad for the kidneys (if they were fully mixed into the pellets by me). But I'm sure he could do with a lil calcium for his bones n pin feathers!