Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1912-06-21
KEEP THE CHICKS GROWING
Regular Feeding and Good Care Counts
When Marketing Day Comes

Most chicks are well fed and cared
for while their mothers are. confined
in coops; but, when allowed to range,
regular feeding is too often neglected,
and as a result growth is retarded and
they become what is termed "stunt-
ed.' It appears, from statistics fur
nished by produce dealers, that but z
per cent Of spring chicks marketed
weigh four pounds December LIST. By
this time all the spring stock of the
general purpose breeds, like the Rocks,
Wyandottes, Orpingtons and Reds,
should average at least six pounds
live weight. Plymouth Rocks have
been made to weigh seven pounds,
dressed, at Thanksgiving time, by judi
cious feeding for growth and develop
ment while on range.
As Minnesota rears yearly Il, 1000
chickens, and as SO per cent Of all
birds sold, old and young, are mar
keted under four pounds iye weight,
the above facts are worthy Of consid-
GRAFTON by every breeder of poultry
in the state. Little chicks, as soon as
Matched and dry, should have litter in
which to scratch, so that their toes
may be Strengthened and strength
ened. Fine, sharp sand or grit should
be scratched in the litter for them to
pick up, and fresh water should be
supplied. After forthy-eight hours,
their first feed should be given, con-
sisting Of a. hard boiled egg mashed
up with piece Of stale bread moist
ened in sweet milk, but squeezed dry
as possible. This should be fed five
times daily, at intervals Of two hours.
Mixed grains of finely cracked corn,
wheat and pinhead oats may be scat
tered in the litter after the fourth
day. The grain may also be fed in
little hoppers, but scratching must be
encouraged by scratching some feed
in the litter.
-Johnny-cake, made Of two parts
corn meal and one part of bran should
be baked and fed frequently after. the
fourth day. Clutch" or cottage cheese
is fine to produce growth in chickens,
and may be fed twice daily. It. should
not be cooked, however, but the
pan Of clabbered milk should be heat.
| ed just enough to separate the whey,
and then the soft cheese should +, be
squeezed or: pressed dry in cloth
Sweet milk or sour may also be given;
but fresh, pure water should be sup.
piled at all times. When table-scrap.
are fed, they may be mixed with bran
or shorts and fed as wet mash; but
dry mashes will be more satisfactory
| When the chicks are weaned at six
or eight weeks, and are on range
their grain ration, with grit and char
coal, may be supplies in hoppers
The hopper should be so placed, OF
so constructed, that the old fowls
will not rub the chicks or drive then
away. A small enclosure, made Of
lath and covered with wire, will ad
nit the chicks and keep others from
frightening or molesting the chicks
while eating. Coops Of ample space
should be furnished, well-ventilated
but secure from the depreciation Of
night-powlers. The coops, utensils
and surroundings should be KEEP
scrupulously clean and sanitary, ant
the flocks kept free Of vermin. - '
i Cracked corn is one 81: stthefles
grain-feeds for growing poultry. Whei
new corn begins to harden, whether
sweet or field corn, it may be "whit
tled' or shaved from the cob for thu
eager chicks. On range they will Sc
cure bugs, worms and bone making ma
terial. ~-'. 2 =,
When they have reached full height
all those intended for market SHOULD
be put in fattening-crates and fec
ground feed and skim milk for three
weeks. An average Of two pounds pei
head may be added to the wei ght Of
fowls, old and young, by this method
at cost Of about five cents per pound
BY all means keep the chicks growing
and fatten them before putting then
on the market.-N. E. Chapman, Poul
tryman, Extension Division MINI. Col
Of Agriculture, :.<.. -