Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[nchls school]

So if mother and chicks are with the rest of the flock, how/what do you feed them if chicks cant eat layer pellets?

Chicks can eat layer pellets, just provide other nutrition.

 

[dawnpel]

I thought they couldn't eat them because of the calcium in them?

 

[nchls school]

I thought they couldn't eat them because of the calcium in them?

As long as other foods are available the extra calcium will have no negative effect.

 

[sjturner79]

So if mother and chicks are with the rest of the flock, how/what do you feed them if chicks cant eat layer pellets?

Use an all flock feed like a showbird or game bird maintainer or duck finisher and provide calcium separately for the hens.

 

[sjturner79]

As long as other foods are available the extra calcium will have no negative effect.

That is not true. It gives a high chance of the chicks developing gout if they are eating lots of layer pellets

 

[nchls school]

That is not true. It gives a high chance of the chicks developing gout if they are eating lots of layer pellets

If there are other foods available, chicks will not overdue on layer pellets.

 

[Turk Raphael]

If there are other foods available, chicks will not overdue on layer pellets.

Don't worry about the chicks...that's why folks use broodies. Just stay out of the way and let momma do her thing. If they have clean fresh water, the food will take itself, especially for such new chicks.

 

[Faraday40]

I have both chick feed & layer feed around. The layer feed is pellets & in the hanging feeders that are difficult for chicks to get to. The chick crumbles are in all the other ground feeders. A few hens eat too much chick feed & the extra protein gives them runny poop. But, it's only for a short time & they can always eat oyster shell when needed. I rarely see the chicks eating the layer feed.

Now scratch, on the other hand, is a diff story. I don't want my chicks to eat it and get crop issues, but broody calls her chicks, & they try to grab as much as possible! They run around & between all the other hens' legs. Never had any health issues from it, but I'd just prefer they stuck with their chick feed like good little peeps.

 

[Molpet]

So if mother and chicks are with the rest of the flock, how/what do you feed them if chicks cant eat layer pellets?

put an area that only chicks can get in... wire with a hole chick size and big enough hens can't reach the chick starter

 

[2 Russo Chicks]

Dawnpel I always go to tractor supply and get chick food and I like the kind with the medication in it for first food. I got a small bag for now it was $9.99