No starter crumb to be found! what shall I give them??

[Cheerful]

My broody hatched six chicks a week ago. We had a little (medicated) chick starter crumb left from last year and gave them that, but when we went to buy more we can't get any! They are early chicks, of course, and most people won't get their chick orders in for a few months here. We have "grower pellets" and I've tried grinding them up though the result is ofter dust, and large bits, instead of a good number of small bits. Also gave them some ground up millet and oats. And I've been giving them boiled egg. The hen had them out over the weekend - she would be out with them all day, and I felt very good about that but unfortunately the temp has taken quite a dip down (It's -1C right now, and REALLY windy) and I don't feel confident letting them out.
I've been raiding the pantry....what can I give them??I hope they've been getting enough (I worry more when they are in and aren't out foraging) , and I'm trying to offer a variety of things.
Worried a bit about going without the medication - again, when they are outside I'm confident but they've been in for two day. I do clean out their box and water though with mother hen in there it's kind of stressful for them all.
Should I try soaking the grower pellets? Would that help? I think they are eating them if I get them smallish, though it's hard to tell if maybe mother hen eats them all? Any other grains?
Mother hen SCRATCHES everything around even more than the chicks do so feeding them seems messy and it's always hard to tell how much they've eaten.
positives - they are a week old and everybody is still here and well, as far as I can tell. I'm hoping this means they are getting enough, but of course they will be eating more and more now!
Would love any advice or ideas!
thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

Are they grower pellets or layer pellets? Layer has too much calcium for chicks for long term use. The pellets can be soaked in water and can be easily fed, in fact any type of chicken feed except for scratch pretty much becomes like oatmeal in a little water with stirring. If your feed store has an all flock raiser, that would be perfect. There is no medicine for coccidia, but many people choose to feed that to everyone year round. For layer hens you would also put out some calcium (in crushed egg shells or oyster shell.)

 

[Cheerful]

thanks! They are grower pellets. I'll soak some right away and see how that goes.

 

[Eggcessive]

Be sure and get some chick feed or all flock raiser feed soon because the grower probably has only 16% protein, and they need 20% until they are older. You can bump up the protein easily with some chopped up scrambled eggs.

 

[Cheerful]

OK! I've been giving them egg too. Does "all flock raiser" have another name? I'm not sure I heard of it. Who are the "grower pellets" meant for? The age between chick and layer?