The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-29
CHICKS REQUIRE LIBERAL
 FEEDING ON A VARIED RATION
What to Feed and How to
 Feed It

Copyright 1914, by Matos- Menz Adv. Co.,.
 Incl
 v Old hands in the poultry business say that there is more in the feed than in the breed" The very best chicks may be ruined unless they are properly fed ; and since little chicks consume a small amount of food, the cost of perfect ra- ton is comparatively slight. It is true economy to supply exactly what they re- quire, as their whole life is influenced by the start they get, and, of course, this has a tremendous bearing on the profits or losses of the seasons operations. l NProfessor Stoneburn has been wonder fully successful in rearing chicks. and his suggestions regarding feeding meth ods may be safely adopted.
 By FREDERICK H. sToNEBURN . It has long been recognized that the greatest leak in the poultry business is l the heavy mortality among the little l chicks. The breeding season Is really the l most trying and exacting part of the years work. Moreover, 1t Is the time which in large measure determines the important matter of profit or loss. Mis- takes made then cannot be entirely cor rected later, so as a matter of sound bus iness policy the chick grower should adopt hll measures which will insure the sue cess of this critical portion of his work.
 We have previously discussed the neces- 'sity of using chicks of good quality and giving them comfort and protection. The remaining factor is the food supply, and it Is most important one.
 The amateur often wonders why so much stress is laid upon this subject. He probably recalls seeing nice iocks of chicks reared on general farms where the | staple feed was merely corn meal damp ened with water of skim milk. and is in- clined to think that there Is no necessity ! for adopting more complicated methods \ of feeding
 , Conditions always alter cases. This primitive feeding system may work fairly well where the chicks are reared by hens in small broods during the late spring months, with liberty to range over field ! and garden, barnyard and orchard Un- der such circumstances kindly nature supplies most of the things they need, but when many chicks are placed together or are confined in limited space, the poul- tryman must furnish the essentials since he denies the youngsters the privilege of finding them for themselves.
 Primary Considerations
 Tn CHICK 1eeulng the pOliltS to pe coH- sidered are the composition of the ration, It's quality and mechanical condition and how 1t is supplied.
 As a general proposition 1t may be stat ed that chicks require varied ration and one which Is well balanced. The lat ter term should not cause confusion. 1t is not necessary to know the chemical composition of the various ingredients of the ration nor just the relative propor- ton of carbohydrates and protein in order to feed successfully. What is needed is a realization of the fact that the growing chick requires grain, green stun, mineral matter and animal food. The exact rel lative proportion of each is less important than the fact that all four must be given In some form if the very best results are demanded.
 Among the grains. corn. wheat and oats are most used. Barley, Kaffir corn, buck heat, peas and millet seed are also val uable Of course such cereal by-products as bran. middlngs and gluten meal are also needed.
 The green food may consist of sprouted oats or wheat, lettuce, kale. chard. clover. lawn grass or even small weeds from the garden. In the spring chicks at liberty will usually find all this material which they require. Where a large number of chicks range over a given area, or it is necessary to conf1ne them in small yards, green food should be regularly supplied. In this connection 1t may well be pointed out that long, tough grass in yards or on inc range does not furnish the kind of green food which little chicks can use. Many poultrymen observe that the yards are well grassed over and so jump at the conclusion that the chicks are getting enough green stuff, when, as matter of fact, they are not.
 Possibly no part of the ration is so often neglected as the mineral elements. All grains contain certain amount of ash or mineral matter, but this Is not sufficient to meet the needs of chicks which are rapidly building strong bones. Lack of this important material always results In slower growth or uneven de- velopment.
 Chicks require sharp grit to aid diges- tion. In the group we might also place the charcoal, which helps to keep the di- gestive apparatus in a sweet, healthy con- tition.
 Animal Food Required
 It seems to be impossible to make chicks and duckings develop rapidly unless they are given a reasonable amount of food drawn from animal sources Beef scrap, fish scrap, dried blood, granulated milk. fresh meat green bone and skim milk are all good.
 Regarding the quality of the various feeds given, there is but one safe rule. Use nothing but the best quality, sweet. clean, sound, free from mold and evidence of heating It costs but little to feed the tiny chicks for the first few weeks-the critical period-on high-priced materials. and it never pays to use inferior food Curing this time merely to save few cents on the feed bill.
 Mechanically, the various materials should be in such condition that the little fellows can eat them readily. Grains should be finely cracked and ground ma terials made exceedingly fine Power-driv- en machinery will do this work more cheaply that a chicks gizzard.
 When it comes to the question of quanti- ty, the safe rule is to give the chicks all the food they can use to advantage. The amount varies according to age and de- velopment, but rapid growth can only be secured by liberal feeding.
 At first the old plan of little and often ie a sound one to follow. The writer has seldom had good results from keeping food constantly before the chicks while the latter were confined in brooder pens