Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-26
FORCING Chicks, Maturity.

Chicks and all young animals make
the most economical use of food when
they are Young. At this age they will
consume. a relatively large amount of
food. and SO perfect is the digestion
OF the young animals hat large
share of the food goes for building up
grow tn. ANY young animal will grow
rapidly if it has plenty OF wholesome
and nutritious food. For this rea son
il is mistake not to feed young ami
mails all they win eat several times a
day. Making them grow as fast as they
can is where the profit comes in.
Feeding them only half of what they
need or what they will eat wilk result
IN slow growth and doubtful profits.
Che pullets of this springs Matching
are to be grown for future layers. The
thing TO do is to feed them enough nu-
tritious feeds in variety TO make them
mature before the warm weather is
over. Young chickens on good feed
grow rapidly in warm weather-na-
lures time for growth-and, if they
are pushed along fast, the best of the
early Matched pullets will be laying by
tie last of August. and all of the early
ones should be laying before the first
of October; most of them by the mid
die of September.
Wines carly pullets are forced for
maturity and begin to lay late sum
mer or fall, they are worth twice as
much as pullets that Ga hot begin to
lay at the end of the warm season. If
they do not begin to lay in the fall
they are not apt to begin laying till
the following spring; hence, they must
be kept through the fall and winter ON
expensive feeds without any eggs for
sale or use Ii is much better To feed
them extra during the summer, when
they win grow the fastest, and have
them laying through the winter when
eggs bring the highest prices. During
the winter such pullets soon pay for
their raising. BY the time they are
one year old they will have paid for
themselves with 4 fair margin of pro-
fit. 1t is the only way TO make the
laying stock pay; get them out early
and feed for early maturity.
Most of the eoekerels of the seasons
hatchings will either tie sold on the
market or used atshome for meat. Ia
either case The fS8ter they are made
to grow the more profit there will be
in them. Spring CHICKENS" that can
be finished for market early in the
season always bring good round
price. Later in the summer they be-
come much cheaper because every
body is selling stock. The early
spring chicken that weighs from a.
pound and one-half to two pounds will
bring more money on the market than
one weighing twice as much a few
weeks later in the summer, and the
former will consume no more feed and
REQUIRE no more care and shelter than
the latter. The rule should be to feed
them all they win eat for short time
and just as soon as they can be dis
tinguished rom the pallets let all go
that you wish to sell Those to be
kept for home use should also be fed
literally for rapid growth and used as
needed Cockerels intended for breed
ing purposes should be fed we'll and
made to grow as large and strong as
possible before cold weather. With
the strength and full maturity of the
males lies a large share of the yitali-
ty and thrift of dhe future flock.
All chicks that have passed the ten
der age should have grassy range
for securing green feed and insects.
They will make a large share of their
living on these. and the exercise in the
sun and open air will keep them
healthy and thrifty. But in addition