With all the brands I've looked at at least, the formulas are almost identical, except that layer has much more calcium and starter has a little more protein. So the excess calcium is the only issue, but calcium is not a toxin, it's water soluable mineral and can usually be easily excreted--it shouldn't be an issue unless given in excess over long periods. But that said, I have raised chicks on layer feed for extended periods before when I could not get OG starter/grower on this rock I live on, and though perhaps it was not optimal, they were healthy and it seemed their kidneys were just fine (and if you're wondering how I know, I was actually able to see them when we processed the cockerels). So you can definitely safely feed them crushed/ground layer pellets without fear of death or organ damage for at least a short while. IMHO letting them go hungry or radically and abruptly altering the diet with new things could be as or more disruptive to the systems than feeding layer for a day or two, though none of it is going to cause real harm either way (and grass and bugs never hurt anyone)...
GL!
) Can I give them crushed laying pellets just for a few hours to fill them up?? if not what can I do?
