The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-06-04
Use Of Grit Open Question.

SiiHuihS Hialeiidi, 10 an opcu queSlion.
At any rate, it seems to be necessary
in chick feeding. Experiment demon
strated that oyster shells were less
valuable for young chickens than sharp
sand; the report Of the experiment
stated that the shells seemed to iniure
the digestive tract of the chicks. Good
grit Of chick size, or sharp sand, gives
the best results.
Some sort of green food is necessary
in poultry feeding, and especially for
chicks. In section where chick weed
is abundant, this makes an excellent
green food supply, particularly till the
chicks are few weeks old. Where
kale grows all winter, this may be cut
or shredded and given to the chicks.
Lettuce is good,- but is usually too ex-
pensive. Potatoes are not desirable II
fed raw, but may be cooked and given
with the moist mash. Sweet apples are
very much liked, but very sour apples
are not good for chickens. Mange
beets may be cut fine and mixed with
the food; or they may be cut in halves
and left for older chicks to peck at.
Dry Alfalfa or Glover. j..
Where nothing else is to be had, clean,
dry alfalfa or clover leaves (soaked)
may be given, but this is not SO good
as fresh food. A good source of sue
culent food, and one which may be
prepared at any season of tho year, is
sprouted oats. The grain should first
be sprinkled with formalin in the pro
portion of one pint of formalin to
thirty gallons of water. This is to
prevent molding. The amount given is
enough for thirty bushels of oats. The
grain should be well mixed after sprink-
ling, covered with blankets or sacks,
and allowed to remain for twelve hours
Then it may be dried and kept Tor
sprouting. Trays about two inches
deep, and well drained are used Aor
sprouting oats. They are filled with
gram WHiCu HdS pSch SoahCu III VAIN
water, and kept in a warm place, being
sprinkled daily with warm water. If
the temperature is right, the oats will
grow to three inches in height in little
over a week.
The chicks will eat both top and
root, and the grain as well, as soon as
they are able to swallow it. The tops
should not get long, as they are too
fought to be eaten by the young chick
ems. The old sprouts may be fed to
the hens. Lawn clippings make good
green food, and the tender leaves of
vetch or clover are much relished. When
available, good grass run is best,
though additional green food d-may often
be given with advantages especially
while the chicks are young.
Animal Foods.
If chicks are allowed to range with
the hens, they find insects and worms,
and do not so greatly need other ami
NAL foods. If, however, they are
brooded artificially, or are not allowed
to range, animal food must be pro
vided
SKINNED milk is excellent, fed
sweet or sour, but it contains 50 large
a proportion of water that the chicks
do not get enough solid matter in the
amount they can eat. Sour milk fed
from the first meal, or a moderate
amount of sour milk curd, appears to
do no harm. If, however, older chicks
which are not accustomed to the milk
or the curd, are given all they will eat
at first, they are likely to overeat,
and may have looseness Of the bowels.
If milk Is not obtainable, granulated
milk or milk albumen may be used,
though it is not as well liked as the
SKINNED milk. All milk foods are de-
ficient in ash, and bone mean should
be given to supply this necessary ele-
ment.
Cooked meat is often recommended,
but is troublesome to prepare. If, how
ever, bits Of cooked meat from the
kitchen are to be had, they may be
profitably used. Chicks will eat all the
waste pieces, If cooked very tender.
This form of meat food has little ash.