3 Use the correct feed

The easiest way to get the best feed for your chicks is to buy a commercial starter crumble. These are formulated to meet all a chick’s special nutritional needs.

Never use a layer feed for new chicks. It contains very high levels of calcium in the form of lime flour which will damage their kidneys. They can die of kidney failure, often as they reach maturity (18 weeks+).

Commercial chick starter er feed will contain a coccidiostat, a low ow level of medication to help prevent t a parasitic disease called coccidiosis. Coccidiosis can wipe out whole clutches so o using this kind of feed is important. There will be details about it on the bag, and most ost companies will have more information on their website.

Some also add essential l oils like oregano, which help to maintain gut t health.

If you offer other types of feeds alongside chick starter, you u are reducing the amount of medication the chicks receive eive daily, which will render the protection it gives useless.

If you have a broody hen she can eat chick starter along with her chicks, until she starts laying again. It is very important to have chick starter available from hatching