Why do chicks need a different diet from adult laying hens?
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Chicks require feed high in protein (around 18–20%) to support their rapid growth, but crucially low in calcium. By contrast, layer feed is loaded with calcium (about 4%) for eggshell formation — a level that can severely damage a chick's immature kidneys.
A chick's kidney filters differently from an adult hen's
In the adult laying hen, dietary calcium at high levels is essential: much of it is used to build the eggshell, and the excess is excreted by mature kidneys accustomed to this load. In the chick, whose kidney system is still immature, this calcium excess cannot be eliminated properly. It accumulates and can cause kidney damage, sometimes irreversible, as well as bone growth disorders. This is why starter feed contains intentionally low calcium, around 1%, far below that of layer feed.
The second key point is protein: chick growth is dramatic, with weight multiplying tenfold or more within weeks. This demands high protein intake for muscle and feather development, whereas the adult hen, whose growth is complete, has much lower protein needs focused instead on maintenance and egg production.
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Particle size matters too: chicks receive feed in fine crumbles or powder, suited to their small beaks, while adults digest larger pellets well. Water must be accessible without drowning risk—for example in a shallow drinker or fitted with floats, as chicks can drown easily in a simple bowl.
The common mistake of one feed for all
Using the same bag of layer feed for the whole flock, chicks included, is frequent practice in backyard farming but risky for the youngest birds. The transition should be gradual: starter feed until around 6–8 weeks, then grower, then layer only as laying approaches, usually around 18–20 weeks. If there is any doubt about a chick's growth or health, advice from a veterinarian is recommended.
