What Kind of Food Do You Put in With Mom & Chicks?

[SproutGirl]

Our broody hem is hatching as I type, and now I am wondering what sort of food to put in with her and the babies. This is our first time hatching with a hen, and our hen's first time too! Should we use chick starter? Will that be okay? Will that mess with her laying cycle? Chick starter and laying pellets? Will that mess with the chicks? My books do not seem to address this matter? They just say that ol' Mom will teach the babies how to eat. Thanks for the input!

 

[speckledhen]

Just starter or starter/grower is good. The hen may need extra protein anyway to get her weight back and build herself up again.

 

[SproutGirl]

Thanks, Speckledhen. I do believe that you have answered several of my questions on this board. My birds are much obliged.

 

[onthespot]

I put Start N Grow in a blender dry until it is more powdered and the chicks eat it a lot better and grow faster for the first couple of weeks.

 

[Southernbelle]

I put the feeder with the layer pellets up on a cinder block in the pen - the broodies have no problem reaching it, but the babies can't.

I put chick starter and water at ground level for the babies. Although the moms are liking the chick starter better than their food right now.