Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-31


a large number of orders for eggs for
Matching are on their books for de-
livery.
This means extra care and work to
bring to maturity these late Matched
chickens, but that 1t can be done satis
factorily, and is done every year, is
proven at our winter shows, where
many of the best birds were hatched
during June and as late even as the
early part of July.
The great thing to keep in mind
when caring for late chicks is that
feeding must not be carried out to
the extent of being almost a cram
ming process as the inevitable result
will be to feed them off their feet,
and therefore it really becomes the
paramount issue in the raising of
these late chicks to see how fast we
can grow them without feeding them
off their feet''-which means without
injuring their digestion; therefore we
prefer to keep on the side of safety and
not try to force them too fast, which
would mean failure in the accomplish
ment of our object-maturing them be-
fore winter sets in.
Food rich in ame-building material
is therefore of first consideration as
the least approach to fattening will
hinder bone construction so necessary
at this period We must so balance
our ration that the frame and flesh
growth will keep in the right relation
to one another. The first food is of
much more Importance than is general
ly realized, and especially so by the
beginner In the business.
mistake in the composition of the
first food may make so much trouble
that 1t will hinder our prospects of
making the chicks take hold of life
and begin growth as it ought to begin.
Thousands of chicks are killed every
year by making this mistake, and es-
pecially so by causing looseness of the
bowels by the feeding sloppy mess,
that in some cases was called "moist"
when it was nothing of the kind.
Another mistake frequently made
and largely due to the teaching of So
called poultry science" is to leave
the chicks so long without nourish-
ment that they are weakened in the
very start, and when food is then
finally put before them an impaired
digestion is the result, but a mistake
may also be made in the other di-
rection by feeding more than is needed
the first few feeds.
For the first few day; you will find
that the hen pays a greaS deal more
attention to keeping her little cnes
warm than to hunt up big dinner
for them, and we should do the same.
Where brooder chicks are to be ham
died the question IF warmth is of con-
siderable Importance.
We have read much rubbish on the
question and most of 1t by men that
knew little and cared less for the well
fare of the chickens.
Little chickens need warmth and
must have it supplied in the months Of
June and July as well as i'll the early
spring months, AMI any well con-
structed brooder Will give tha chickens
chance to suit themselves in this
particular, the heat being graduated
according to the distance they are
away from the hover, but the warmth
under the hover we keep about 100 de-
grees. When the little ones need
little brooding they can run in under
the cover and get it in very lew
seconds, the same is under the hen.
She keeps her temperature the same at
all months in the year, and not sub
ject to change. AS long as artificial
warmth is needed IL must be supplied
in the right amount needed and the
hen is our best guide In this matter.
AS to what method to pursue in the
feeding of little chicks and what to
feed I have found in my own expert
ence that the 50 often quoted advice
Feed little aad often" Is not true
to the letter nor conducive to best re-
Suits as in most instances this means
haphazard times.
Feed the little chicks all they will
eat clean up every two hours, and be
sure that the first meal Is given at
daylight and the last at night as late
as 1t can be given them, even If Ian