Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-16
Proper Feed for Chickens.

Dutchess courty On. Y. poultry raiser
writes to the Country Gentleman For
young chicks just hatched | use a custard
made Of equal parts of eggs and milk. The
young things eat very little, and that little
must be wholesome and satisfying. To have
strong, sturdy chicks. they should remain on
the nest at least forty eight hours after hatch
ing. As soon as all the eggs which will are
hatch ed. clear the nest of shells and un-
hatched eggs. throw the hen of the nest.
(having previously placed food and drink
within her reach, and allow her to remain
until her wants are relieved, after which che
will return and be quiet for the forty-eight
hours, or until time TO remove her, with her
brood to the coop, or building, where they
are TO remain until weaned If steady sit
ter and the eggs are all right, the hen will
hatch them out uniformly. Long before the
chicks begin to hatch, all unfertiized eggs
should be removed from the nest.
At the end of the first twenty four hours.
place some of the custard or a shingle
in front of the nest, and the hen, if good
mother, will call her brood and feed them
This food is the very best they can take, be-
ing soft. digestible, and nutritious. 1t is
nearly the same nourishment that has here
tofore supplied the growth of the chicks.
generally arrange to have several broods
hatch at the same time. when there is little
trouble. | feed the chicks sometimes half
a dozen times a day, when small. They do
not run at large, except in the very warmest
portion OF the day. until after several DAYS
and if the weather is bad not before a week
old. l continue this custard, beginning
when two or three days old to introduce with
it cracked corn, wheat or buckwheat. so that
they may become accustomed to it by de-
grees, until capable of subsisting on it en-
tirely. When ted whole grain, OF even meal,
the chicks must be allowed plenty of fresh
drink. water is best and run on the ground
or where they can have free access to gravel
or coal ashes.
For green food. use chopped onion tops,
if can get them. If not, give finely cut
lettuce fresh tender grass or running NAL
lows, of which they are very fond when in
confinement. Nv chicks always thrive; I sell
dom lose any TO make the cusfard, I take
one egg, well beaten. and add three table.
spooBfuls OF new milk, and bake in a small
shallow pan. This preparation makes a Gus
tard so stiff that it will break into Jumps, and
none is wasted, would be the case with
softer food. II is better than hard-boiled
eggs. have used bread and milk. but it is
not so good. One egg makes sufficient food
per day for eight or ten chicks at first. of the
small breeds. The larger breeds of chickens
can sooner be weaned off. The expense is
not great. taking into account the nice, thrift
" condition of the fowls. They keep ahead
of all diseases, and there is no loss, if careful
to prevent accidents. They make finer birds
when grown up, and splendid hens for egg
production 18th the closest calculation it
takes about bushel Of corn per year for q
hen. II ether grain is used with it. of course
less will be required, bat all fowls, for thrift,
and profit. must be given one feed of com
! daily. Without it they stop just short of the