The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1914-07-16

Chickens do not
require food for
the first thirty-six hours after Matching.
One Of the best foods that can be fed
the first few days is stale bread soak
ed ia milk. This should be crumbled
fine and placed where the chickens
have free access 10 II and where they
cannot step on IT, One OF the dificuIt
problems for the poultryman is TO de-
wise some means for feeding little
chickens so that they can consume the
food without soillng It II placed on
the floor OF the broOder or the brooder
run the larger part OF the food will
be trampled upon and VIII soon be-
come unfit 10 eat Small, narrow
trays or troughs are easily made and
answer the purpose Of keeping the
chicks from tramping on their food.
Granulated oats with the bulls re-
moved make an excellent food for
young chickens. There is perhaps no
better grain for young chickens than
oats prepared In this manner IL may
be fed 70 good advantage after the sec
ond or third day in connection with
the bread sopped IN milk
The chickens should have free access
20 some kind OF grit after the first
day. Coarse sand makes an excellent
grit for young chickens As they get
q little older some coarser material
must be provided.
MIX is an excellent food for these
young fowls. but IL requires skill In
feeding One OF the great difficulties
In rearing fowls Is 10 carry young
chickens through the nrst two weeks
without bowel disorders. Too low
temperature IN the brooder. improper
food and injudicious feeding. even II
the right kinds OF food are given, each
plays an important part In producing
these disorders. After the first ten
days milk may be given more freely
perhaps than during the earlier stages
Of the chicks existence.
A mixture Of fine middlings. wheat
bran, cornmeal and a little linseed
meal softened with milk makes a vaiu-
able food. Hard boiled eggs may be
led from the beginning. but. like. milk.
require more skill than the feeding of
bread sopped in milk. On farms where
screenings from the various grains be-
come really a by product these form
cheap and efficient food for chickens.
Wheat screenings especially form one
OF the best foods II they contain con-
siderable portion OF good kernels that
have been cracked In threshing. Then.
too. the screenings contain a number OF
weed seeds that hare some feeding
value and are reiished by the fowls.
They not only provide sustenance. but
give variety. and this in measure in-
proves the general health.
A good mixture OF grains is equal
parts OF whole wheat. cracked corn and
cut or crushed oats. Some poulterers
prefer 10 feed wheat one day. corn the
next and oats the next This is all
right either way. Grain once a day Ia
sufficient II variety Of other food is
obtainable A cheap and valuable food
Is stale bread or rolls which bakeries
and restaurants sell at cent pound
Hotel and restaurant table scraps may
also N1 NNlA1nHU AZ HkuAAA GUST 4At
kinds OF Vegetables. raw or cooked,
may be used Meat scraps or ground
bone may be fed sparingly with mash.
Give the grain In a clean litter early In
the morning. mash at noon and vege
tables. softcned bread or grain In the
evening. Make the mash with skim
milk II il Is available. Sour milk and
whey are good substitutes now and
again for mature fowls.
Where fowls are kept in confinement
IL win be necessary 10 supply some
meat food Finely cut fresh bone from
the meat markets Is one of the best, IL |
not the best. kind OF meat for laying |
hens. Unfortunately Il Is not prac
ticable for many poultrymen to depend |
wholly on this product, for the reason
that it is often inconvenient or impos-
sible to obtain. and when once secured |
II cannot be kept in warm weather
without becoming tainted Tainted
bones should be rejected as unit for
food. Skimmilk may be substituted
wholly or in part for meat food with
out decrease In egg production. pro
ylded the proper grain ration is given