While not a doctor, nor do I play one on t.v., I believe that chickens need more protein than the commerical chick feed provides. With my first batch of chicks, I was feeding them mainly just the starter chick feed. When Ruth nearly died with a twisted neck and inability to walk, I started hand feeding her anything that was high in protein including cat food. Ever since, I have been feeding all chicks a well balanced meal that includes chick feed, veggies, fruits but most importantly protein in the form of dry cat food, shredded cheese, black oil sunflower seeds, and fresh crickets on occasion - plus they free range our woods all day long. I've had no problems with sickness since or the other issues that people are experiencing with their hens pecking one another, eating feathers, or eating their eggs (which they just started laying this week and the shells are so hard I sometimes bust the yolk trying to crack the egg).
I know I've read all the posts on the board about the commercial food being so well balanced and that if you feed them anything else it will keep them from getting the nutrition they need and I believed that when I started out with chicks but no longer buy into belief. I watch mine free range and eat the good foods I give them and they are beautiful and healthy and their feathers look like I oiled them, and they only eat the dry chick feed as a last resort.
