Momma Hen Ignores Chick Feed For Her Baby

[ColoradoChicks]

Hi All,

I've got a mama hen with a week old foster chick. She's not a particularly good mama (first time) but she's learning

Anyway, even though I put chick feed close to the nesting box where she and the baby are camped out, she takes the little one out into the run and is showing her how to eat the layer feed.

My last mama hen with a foster chick did the same thing. That chick is over a month old and seems find (though small) and I was just wondering if I should worry or let the mamas do their thing.

Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would take up the layer feed because if you have chicks around, they are going to eat it, and it has too much calcium for young chickens. Flockraiser or non-medicated chick feed can be fed to every other chicken in your group. Just buy some crushed oyster shell or use crushed egg shells, and keep them available for your layers to get they calcium--the babies won't usually eat it.

 

[ColoradoChicks]

Thanks! We don't have anything called flockraiser at my local feed store, but I'll look into it. I've never used oyster shell before, but I think they have it.

 

[donrae]

My feed store calls it all in one, or you can use grower, whatever they have that does not have calcium added.