The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-01

w shell it is an insignificant lit
mmm tie creature, weak and help
less, of little value. But when We
remember that the little chicks are
our future laying or market birds,
that their future usefulness is large
ly determined by the care they re-
ceive in early life, We realize how
important it is that they be properly
fed and managed to the end that they
may be able to do their best work for
us at maturity.
1t pays to fuss" with the chicks.
The old adage "as the twig is bent
the tree is inclined" applies with
great force here. We can give the
youngsters husky start which
means profitable maturity, or we can
stunt them and thus prevent them
from ever being of much account.
The feeds and feeding methods
used during the brOoding period are
most important. 1t is not necessary
for the chick-grower to possess pro-
found knowledge Of chemistry in Or
der to successfully mix his chick ra-
ton, but he should use a reasonable
amount of common sense, study the
problem and adopt those tested meth
ods which best fit into his general
plan of poultry plant management.
The Old-Time Plan.
Some one may say that it is pos
sible to raise mighty good chicks on
absurdly simple rations and point to
the mixture of cornmeal and water
which Is so commonly used as the
staple chick food in the country dis
tricts.
But circumstances alter cases. On
the general farm where such feeding
methods are most in vogue, the
chicks are usually hatched rather
late in the Spring after insect life
has become abundant and there is
plenty Of fresh, tender green stuff.
As a rule the chicks are cared for by
hens and are given their liberty, wan
dering at will about the farm build
lngs and grounds, finding great
amount of food of many kinds. I'm
der such conditions it is possible to
raise very good chicks on cornmeal
dough" The writer has done this.
But when chicks are reared in
large numbers, especially where the
yarding system Is used, they are pre-
vented from finding much food and
the attendant must supply virtually
everything they need. If there is any
failure here, If the ration is incom-
plete or one-sided, proper growth
and even development will hardly
follow.
Growing chicks need plenty ol
food, since scanty feeding is respon-
Bible for slow growth. Their ration
should include grains in variety
mineral matter, animal food and sue
culent greens. Due regard should be
given the proper proportions of each
class Of ingredients, the idea being
to supply materials for building mus.
Gle, bone and feathers. Further, the
ration should be palatable and In
such physical form that the young.
sters can eat 1t readily and digest il
quickly and thoroughly. Each OF
these points has decided bearing
upon results.
Among the grains, the most valu.
able are corn, wheat and cats, to.
gether with their by-products, as
bran, middlings, gluten, etc. Millet
peas, rice, kafir corn and other
grains are also useful to a certain
etxent.
Bone in some form, green cut
granulated or finely ground, fur
nishes the material for building the
skeleton. Finely crushed oyster shell
Is also commonly used, and grit is {
necessity.
Beef scrap, fish scrap, meat meal
blood meal, granulated milk ant
skim milk are all useful anima
foods. In some sections where hearts
and livers of meat animals are avail
able at low prices, these are exten
sively used, being thoroughly boiled
and chopped before feeding.
The greens are fed primarily fol
their tonic effect upon the digestive
system, as they contain but compala
lively small amounts Of nutrients.
Fresh green grass or clover, let
tuce, rape, spronted wheat or dat'
sh l..