Question

[Easter eggers]

I'm looking to raise chicks this summer but have found a problem. Did any of you have a problem with other hens eating moms chick food because I don't want to put them into a broody coop?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chickens don't care if the food is Layer or Starter. They'll eat any of it, especially what you don't want them to eat. The way I solve this is to feed them all the same thing. When I have young chicks in with the flock, I feed them all either Starter or Grower and offer oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the calcium for the egg shells eat the oyster shell. The ones that don't need it don't eat enough oyster shell to cause them any problems.

I also built this to make sure the chicks can get to some food without the adults eating it first. I put one of those red chick feeders under it. The chicks can get in through the ends. You can use milk crates or about anything you have handy, just cut a hole big enough for the chicks and too small for the hens.