The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-11
Proncr Feed for Chickcns.

A Dutchess county IN. W poultry
iiser sends the following excellent
nd practical article to the Country
entleman: For young chicks just
ltched | use a custard made of equal
lrts of eggs and milk. The young
ings eat very little, and that must
wholesome and satisfying. To
I'VE strong, sturdy chicks, they
ould remain on the nest at least
rty-eight hours after Matching.
; soon as all tn eggs which will are
tched, l clear the nest of shells and
Matched eggs, throw the hen off the
st (having previously placed food
Il drink within her reach J, and al
" her to remain until her wants are
ieved, after which she will return
Il be quiet for the forty-eight hours,
until time to remove her, with her
pod, to the coop or building where
" are to remain until weaned. If
teady sitter, and the eggs are all
Int, the hen will hatch them out
iformly. Long before the chicks
gin to hatch all unfertiliZed eggs
buld have been removed from the
t. At the end of the first twenty-four
hrs | place some of the custard on
hingle in front of the nest, and the
J, if a good mother, will call her
cd and feed them. This food is
very best they ear take, being
|, digestible and nutritious. 1t is
rly the same nourishment that
etofore has supplied the growth of
chicks. I generally arrange to
e several brools hatch at the same
e, when there is little trouble. l
| the chicks sometimes half a dozen
es a day when small. They do not
at large, except in the very
NEST portion of the day. until
r several days, and if the weather
nd, not before a week old. | con
e this custard, beginning when
or three days old, to introduce
4 it cracked corn, wheat or buck
at, so that they may become ac-
omed to it by degrees until capable
|ubsisting on it entirely. When
whole grain, or even meal, the
KS must be allowed plenty of fresh
k (water is the best) and run on
ground or where they can have
access to gravel or coal ashes.
green food use chopped onion
if l can get them. If not, l give
y cut lettuce, fresh tender grass
ming mallows, of which they are
fond when in confinement. My
IS always thrive; l seldom lose
To make the custard L take one
well beaten, and add three table
hfuls of new milk and bake in a
shallow pan. This preparation
Ps a custard 50 stiff that it will
into Jumps and none is wasted, as
d be the case with softer food. 1t
ter than hard-boiled eggs. | have
bread and milk, but it is not SO
One egg makes sufficient food
ay for eight or ten chicks at first,
: small breeds. The larger breeds
ckenS can SO0ner be Weaned of.
Expense is not great, taking into
mt the nice, thrifty condit on OF
wis. They keep ahead of all dis
and there is no loss if careful t.
mt accidents. They make fine
when grown up, and splendid
for egg production. With the
t calculation it takes about q
! of corn per year for a hen. Ii
grain is used with it of course
i'll be required, but all fowls fol
and profit must be given one
f corn daily. Without it they
Fop short of the desired result
|er it be flesh or eggs. l feeC
pr laying fowls asoft. warm feet
morning, and find the quantit,
Is increased by doing SO.