Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-16
How to Raise Chickens.


first twenty-four hours after they are hatch
ed. The contents of the yelk bag, which
bag is absorbed into the stomach immedi-
ately before Matching takes place, contains
sufficient nourishment for the first day, and
any attempt to compel the chick to swal-
low other food is likely to do more harm
than good by the arrangement of the di-
gestive system. There will be no difficulty
in getting the chicks to eat if they are sim
ply left alone for the first twenty four hours
after they make their debut into the world.
All such practices as the giving of pep
percorn to newly Matched chicks are most
Objectionable, indeed, and are founded Ell
Their on superstition or ignorance. Such
pungent things as peppercorns must be
very trying indeed to a delicate organ like
the stomach of young chick. That still
more Objectionable practice of tearing off
the horn or scale which nature has placed
on the beak of chicks to enable them to
break open their prison house, combines
cruelty with other things, for this scale will
drop off itself within few days. The less
chickens are interfered with the better du-
ring the early stage of their growth.
The first food should consist of hard
boiled eggs, chopped fine and mixed with
twice their bulk of bread crumbs. Those
eggs which have been set on for week and
proved to be infertile answer capitally for
feeding the chickens. Failing these, we
should purchase duck eggs in preference to
using fresh eggs from the hens, unless the
latter are exceptionally plentiful. Only as
much Of the egg and bread crumbs should
be prepared as will serve two or three
times as 1t soon loses it's freshness, and if
sour will cause securing. 1t should be
slightly moistened with milk, but very
slightly-just sufficient to damp it. Much
depends on the way in which the bread
crumbs are prepared.
When the chicks are eight or nine days
old, they may have the egg and bread
crumbs discontinued, in place of which can
be given little boiled rice, but not much
of that, and some oatmeal mixed with bar
ley or wheat meal, or, if it can be obtained
in place of oatmeal, some ground oats.
When they are about a fortnight old, lit
tie crushed buckwheat may be put down to
them, as they will not be able to manage
the whole corn until they are older.
From the time stated they may be gradu-
ally accustomed to palmer diet until four
months old in the case of the more rapidly
growing breeds, and five months in the
others, when they will require no different
always be mixed with the soft food little
bone meal, which is regarded as an invalu
BILE thing for chicken-rearing; that is the
best, which is about as coarse as Or
binary oatmeal.
For the first week or ten days, every two
hours; from ten days to month old, every
three hours; after that time five times a
day, and when two months old four times
day. 1t is most desirable that the times of
feeding be as equally divided as possible and
be strictly observed.
The first feed should be early in the
morning, say about an hour after day break.
This may necessitate early rising on the
part of some one, but that grace is most
essential one for the chicken raiser. 1t can
scarcely be expected that chickens will
thrive properly which have to run about
hungry for hours after they are astir. Some
feeders leave little hemp seed over night,
so that the birds can help themselves in
the morning. This is undoubtedly better
than nothing, but they will be more likely
to do well if they have warm feed first of
all.
Much contention has been raised as to
whether chickens should have water or not
As to whether they can be raised without
liquid needs no discussion. That has been
proved possible often, but what is possible
is not always advisable, and think it is
most desirable that the chickens should
have access to water. They will only drink
as much of it as their system requires.
One most important thing in the feeding
Of chickens is supply of green food. If
they are being reared on nice piece of
Juicy grass, they can do without anything
slse, but even then supply of fresh let
not be good grass. the lettuces become in