The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-01-28


Much has been said for and against
this Practice. Some affirm that the giz-
zard or muscular stomach of the fowl is
given them expressly to grind their food,
and that all attempts to do it artifcially
are impeachments of the wisdom of the
creation. This same line of argument
would abolish all shelter and care of
them by man; would return man himself
back to the savage state. and feed him
OF wild fruits, nuts and roots. Those
who talk so reverently of nature and
fear so much to improve upon her for
get that fowls in their wild state in their
native climate feed only upon fresh
growing heritage, berries, seeds and in
sects, and as these become dry and tough
or scarce in the North they migrate to
the South, where they again find sup
ply OF what they require naturally. This
accounts for the flOcks of wild geese and
pigeons which are all moving South at
this season of the year. Thus 1t will be
seen that man, in DEMONSTRATING fowls
and keeping them in a cold climate,
changed their mode of living; establish
ing dry for green food in the winter and
that it becomes necessary to compe nsate
for this by assisting in mastication and
digestion. Man has produced from the
long-legged specimen of years ago the
beautiful Brahma and Cochin of to-day
This, too, has been done in opposi-
ton to the natural habits of the
fowl, and man is likely to continue his
efforts as long as he is rewarded by such
splendid results. Our modern fowls are
work of art. Cooking food for them is
of comparatively recent date, and only
practiced by few to-day; nevertheless l
deem the practice as great an improve
ment over feeding whole raw grain as
the fowls are themselves superior to
those seen forty years ago. 1t is prep
erty of starch to be insoluble in cold
water, but to readily dissolve in boiling
water, and to thicken into jelly OF paste
when cool. Very much of the nutriment
in grain, meal or potatoes is lost, there
fore, when fed in raw state. am sat-
isfied that one third less food can be used
with better results if cooked, instead of
being fed raw or simply mixed with cold
water. / have tried nearly all kinds of
whole grain, both raw and cooked, and
the same grain ground, mixed with cold
water; also the same ground and thor
oughly cooked. If grain is to be fed
whole / prefer to use it uncooked, as
believe the fowls prefer it in that condi-
ton, occasionally, for change; but if
ground, should have it cooked BY all
means. Many men have many minds"
Some advocate family oat meal and fine
middlings and many other metropolitan
dishes for young, growing chicks. 1t
may do for the first few weeks, but no
longer.
l have had better results the past sum-
mer than ever before, and have fed al
most entirely (since early potatoes could
be obtained) with boiled potatoes mashed
hot and mixed with an equal quantity Of
wheat bran and the corn and oats ground
together, in the proportion of four parts
potatoes, one part ground corn and oats
and three parts wheat bran. After thor
oughly cooking together have allowed
the mess to cool before being fed; have
fed occasionally corn at night, usually
cracked, but the main feed has been the
mixture given above.
The chicks have had unlimited range
in grass fields on large farm, which of
course has afforded them ample exercise
and opportunity for insect diet. Many
consider wheat bran of little more value
than chat, yet it is true of nearly all
grains that they are as valuable for food
with their enveloping husk ground into
meal with them as when nothing but the
clean grain is employed. In fact, some af-
firm that the husks Of some of them con-
tain more nutrition than the grains them
selves. This / believe true of wheat bran
50 far IS forming bone and muscle. How
ever this may be, all should be ground into
neal TO be most nutritious, and large
percentage is added to their value by
cooking. The object with growing
chicks should be to give them the great
est size at maturity q am speaking now
OF those intended for breeding. Men who
raise early chicks to be killed for market
OF course aim TO get the greatest size at
the earliest age), never forgetting the i'm
portance Of strong, healthy constitutions.
Pampering and stufiing may result in
greater weight ct four or five months old,
but the excess win be internal fat, rather
than bone and muscle When can raise
DARK Brahmas that weigh seven and
half 70 eight pounds at 1--WE months old,
without being fat, ! am satisfied with
their prospects for size It maturity. A
very fat fowl i N abomination; not At
2 Be eaten; does not lay 20 wen lis more
liable to disease and IL not desirable to
breed from- Great weight and sixe in
mature fowls II accompanied with
health. strength and vigor. is always to be
sought for. A large-framed chicken
reared BY the hardy plan can Be easily
lastensa II : few day., but pampered