Milford chronicle., 1909-11-05

Crumbs Of dry or toasted bread make
good feed for the first few days They
may be moisteued with little milk
OF fed dry. Chicks will do better Ii
most of their food is given in a dry
form One of the most common mis-
takes made in feeding chickens is in
giving too much. They should never
be fed more soft food than they will
eat up clean in fifteen or twenty min
utes Dry grain scattered in straw or
cut clover will, of course, last longer
Plenty of pure water grit and char
coal should be provided. Any scheme
that viii compel the chicks to exert
themselves in getting at their food will
be beneficial to their health. The less
they are permitted to bolt their food
the less liable to digestive troubles
viii they become.
The brealcrumbs may continue 70
form a considerable part of the ration
for two or three weeks. Hard boiled
eggs chopped fine and mixed with the
crumbs are good if not fed in too
large amounts. Oatmeal is one of the
best grain foods. but is too expensive
to feed extensively. Crushed corn or
wheat is a good feed to scatter in the
litter BY the time the chicks are
three weeks old grain can replace the
breadcrumbs entirely. About a week
later a little beef scrap can be added
to the ration. Skimmilk can be given
from the time they are a week old.
The best way to feed skimmilk Is TO
let It sour until # becomes curdy. Then
pour off the whey and feed the curd
fresh or dried. It Is greatly liked 10y
chicks in either form The chicks
should be fed three times n day and
oftener II they are not allowed to run
out. As they grow older the oats may
be cut down in amount and the cheap
er grains fed more literally.
Feeding For Egg Production.
If winter eggs are desired 1t is i'm
portant that the hens and pullets be
fed IN such way as to stimulate eg-
production The animal food part 81
the ration, which is very important.
may consist of either beef scrap or
dried curd. This should he put I'm !
self feeding hopper. where the hens 7.
can get 10 it at all times HopperS con I.
tanning charcoal. grit and oyster shells .
should also be provided and kept full. .
Fresh water Is important and should
be supplied plentifully. Automatic I
fountains are the hest means Of water .
ing when the weather is not too cold .
In cold weather water should he given .
in trouehs at least twice day. This .
matter Of giving laying fowls proper !
amount of water is not as well attend
ed to as il should be.
The breakfast for the laying hens
may consist OF shellcd corn scattered /
in the litter in the scratching shed
This will keep the hens scratching all
the forenoon and will give them the
which they need to keep
healthy and in laying condition. At
noon dry feed Of mixed oats and
wheat can he scattered IN the straw.
This keeps the hens scratching two or
three hours longer. The main feed Of
the day is given ut night in the form
Of n mash. \ mash consisting of one
part bran or cut clover or alfalfa, one
part ground corn. one part ground oats
and one part middlings is very good.
there are many other mix
lures that can be used. In cold wealth
Pr the mash should be fed warm. After
eating the mash the hens will 90 10
-OOst warm and comfortable and with
fu1l orot,s-cou1itiouS which favor
high egg yield.
In Feeding laying hens the aim
should be to give all they will eat up
lean In addition 10 the rations given.
some Of the green feeds mentioned
should be fed If they can he obtained.
IN the summer the hens have free
'ange ard can ret plenty Of green food
md insects This. together with the
over price Of eggs, makes it unproft