Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-11
Caring For The Broodor Chicks.

In raising brooder Chicks perhaps the
fiost important thing is 70 have a handy
spot to be used as a cemetery. Next q
true, spirit. Don't get discouraged when
you find the chicks dropping of one,
two. or a half a dozen a day. Don't get
blue. There may be some WHO think
there is no need Of a ''cehetery" or the
"blues" and that chickens brought up as
they should be will not die. That is
true. But how many raise a flock Of
chickens from the incubator to a mar.
ketable age' Such cases are so rare that
they serve as a glowing account for the
newspapers. whereby the innocent are
encouraged to 90 into the poultry bust.
ness, where will be found plenty Of
money and al easy occupation. Such
glowing accounts also have a tendency
TO discourage the amateur already in.
II we have discouragements and failures
that would paralyze most people, dis
couraging times, hard work with chick.
ems when everything seems dark, bol'
them out and start over again; try and
win through the rough school of expert
ence. The tuition often comes high.
Dun watch word should be, what mai
has done, man can do"
There is much In the past that can be
used as object lessons and guides for the
future. II requires more Of an expert
to count the chicks (tbe same NUMBER
when ready for market than it does to
count them before they are Matched.
There are reasons for this decrease in
number, but it does not seem so large
until the season. is over; then it is too
late to mend. BY another season the
trouble are forgotten and many go
through the same experience as before.
believe that not more than half Of
the chicken, lIatChch reach "A marketable
age. Then death is caused by poor man.
agcincnt and a lacl: Of knowledge Of tn"
business. Most chickens are given their
liberty on the farm where all sorts Of
dangers are lurking near, such AS rain
storms, rats, skunks, hawks, etc, and
thcn il is all laid to bad luck, which has
had a good many things laid to it tina,
never belong there. Each dead chicken
represents a fifty cent piece. II every
poultry raiser would keep IN mind that
every dead chicken represents so much
loss, so much less cash returns, he would
take more pains 10 prevent the losses
Raising chicks by artificial means is an
art, but with the best Of appliances, it is
just AS successful as with hens. People
have said what a task it is TO look after
young chicks. ! do not consider it such
a task since learning to use conmo
sense and system about the work.
Just before leaving the shell the chick
draws into its body the whole of the un-
absorbed yolk of the egg. This is its
food before and after leaving the shell
1t must be exactly right. as nature never
err,. 1t is the food nature provided to
sustain life until the chick is strong
enough to take other food: If fed too
soon or too much, the yolk of the egg
which it took into the body before leav-
ing the she'll will not be drawn upon; it
will remain unabsorbed and in time de
eonIose, causing howell trouble and
death.
The greater number OF the chicks that
die of bowel trouble do sc at about a
week or ten days of age. II yon will
open one of tho chicks, in nine cases GU,
Of ten you will find dccomposed yolk in
the yolk sack. Chicks normally Matched
aud given almost any kind Of care will
live and seem to thrive for the first wssx,
then the trouble begins.
The critical period in the chicks life il
the first two weeks. Stating the chicks
right is half the battle When they have
arrived a, the age Of three or four weeks,
they have nearly passed the danger OF
chickendom. One great danger Is ove'
feeding. The young chicks require but
liuie food for the first few days Of theil
life. Their digestive organs are moi
strong and over feeding x the di
ge,tive system AMI bowel trouble results
Improperly feeding chicks, especially fol
the first two weeks, unnakes more
would.be poulIymen than any othe'
thing in the whole business. II is the
Foundation Of almost all diseases.
There, H. no mystery about feeding
chicks. II is easy aud requires only
common sense. When this is lacking
het,er tacL ie so,.eti,iuV else. Chicks die