Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-04


Many beginners. and in good many
cases those who have been raising poul-
try several seasons find that they have
Matched the chicks fairly well-a good
percentage of them living and doing we'll
up to the three-week period, or perhaps
longer Then the experience has been
that they lose their appetites and do not
seem to make a steady growth.
1t has been the experience Of the ma
Jority of poultry raisers that the early
Matched chicks seem to do best in the
making of growth and maturing into the
winter layer or the show specimen. This
is largely due to the better weather con-
ditions in the early part of the year--the
chicks getting good start before the
trying days of summer, for when the hot
days and nights arrive they are we'll
along toward maturity. and can in a
measure take care of themselves
That conditions play an important part
In successfully rearing chicks, no one
Ions III the poultry business will dis
pute. Tina. chickens can be successfully
raised in almost any State in the Union
Is fact, but the poultry raiser must meet
snch conditions as are found in his zone
such as climate, soil etc. The chicks
TO do their best, must be cared for in
such manner that they will make a
steady growth during each month ANY
setoacks will retard maturity, and to in
sure this steady growth the poultry
Keeper must provide conditions such as
will warrant this
PROPER CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL,
No matter how well bred the stock
may be, or how We'll incubated. either
artifcially or by the hen or how carefully
reared by the brooder or mother hen. the
proper conditions, such as clean wards,
good feeding, water that is fresh and
COOL at least three times a day. nrono,
housing, plenty of room and shade. either
natural or artificial, must be provided.
The city man or woman has the most to
contend with, for, as a rule, the ward
or lot space must bs limited, and this
means that the natural advantages that
the farmer or poultry plant operator en-
JOY, mus be provided For summer
chicks at any age, unless to be used as
market fowls, such as late broilers weigh
ing two to 21a pounds. or roasters weigh
be OF such a nature as to insure
STEADY growth without forcing. 1t should
always De remembered that the feeds for
growing the future layers and breeders
and that for market poultry in which
the chief aim Is to get it to market in
the quickest time. are distinct proposi
tons.
One system Of feeding for market is to
promote rapid growth of fat, and when
large quantities of corn, beef scraps. nj,
meal wet mash, and other forcing moth
DDS are used, it is at the EXPENSE of vieor
and usefulness in the long run, If bv
chance the chickens so fed are kept over
For the growing chick that is to he tne
future breeder, layer or prize winner. but
little corn need be fed in the ration. but
rather cooling feeds and bone and muscle
builders. such as wheat, barley. oats
etc. which contain more ash or mineral
matter.
In the dry mash, which should be
placed in such a position that at any
time the growing chicks can eat II.
should be placed bran. middlings. ground
oats, mealed alfalfa, and from 10 to II
per cent. OF high-grade beef scraps never
more)' Bran, middlinRs, ground oats and
mealed alfalfa are all high in ash or
mineral matter, and the beefscraps will
take care of the protein.
A GOOD MIXTURE.
At present the writer is using with
good success, mixture calling for 200
pounds % bran. 100 pounds of middlings.
100 pounds of ground oats, 100 pounds of
mealed alfalfa, and from 10 to Il per
cent. Of beef scraps, according to the
age Of the growing chicks. Ten per
cent. is fed from the 10th day until they
are eight to 10 weeks, when IS per cent
Is fed and this amount Is fed and never
changed until maturity, and is even used
during the egg season with good re-
SUITS IN grains, wheat barley oats,
kafflr corn, and about 20 per cent Of
cracked corn, with few pounds of mil |
let seed are used
Where the growing chicks have free
range with a good grass or clover ground. |
they VIII require no feeding of green |
feed, but where they are confined TO runs
devoid OF any vegetation then beets cab |
bage, cut clover, lawn grass. sprouted
oats, or some other green feed should be |
supplied in liberal quantities At no time
should the chickens be crowded either
in the brooder. brooder house, or in close |
quarters with the mother hen. Plenty of |
floor space should be provided for best
results,
Small hocks do best with the beginner |
because they receive better care and are |
not overcrowding the quarters provided |
for them, or the runs. No matter how |
well Matched or cared for, the fact re-
mains that when crowded In close quar-
tiers, especially during the summer
months, the chickens do not make nor
NAL growth, Crowdng is one OF the mis-
takes that the beginner makes as a rule.
The poultry quarters should be so con-
structed that the house during the hot
days and hot nights will be comfortab BILE,
and this can only be obtained by con-