Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-27

after Matching. For the average nor
mai chick it is probable that thirty-six
nours is the right time for the first
| leed. If allowed to go much longer
| than That they seem to weaken and
become discontented as may be fairly
inferred from their actions, Weaker
/ ch1cks require longer time.
| III chicks are not given or allowed
access to fine sand from the very first
an important point in their feeding has
! been overlooked. Chicks hatched i'm
an incubator seldom get this and this
simple omission accounts for many
deaths through disorders of the bow
els. A gizzard is part of the digestive
| system of a chick, and this part must
have the implements with which To
90 It's work. In the small chick the
| implements are fine bits of sand The
gizZard is soon supplied with this sub
stance in the case of the hen-hatchcd
chick when the chicks have access
to earth.
What TO Feed
The question of what to feed is i'm
portant to see that sweet and whole
some food is provided, but it is equally
important to see that these are put
INTO the proper form; that is we must
not consider alone the kind of food
particle, but also the size and consis-
tency of that particle. AS for instance
no one would think of feeding chicks
whole corn, no matter how sweet or
now well seasoned; it is too hard. also
too large. Manifestly chicks of tender
age cannot digest either too large
or too tough or too hard kernels.
On the other hand, il the particles
are too fine the food becomes too
pasty, and collects in mass or ball
as soon as wet by the juices Of tine
crop. The food is then more resisting
TO both the juices of the digestive tract
and TO the mechanical action of the
gizzard. Formerly it was the gem
eraIiy accepted notion that the first
food of young chicks should be soft. or
semi-soft; as bread and milk. hard
boiled eggs, or soft mash, but while
such food is well for a few days. if fed
Judiciously and for pleasant variety
when chicks are given diffent foods
for q principal diet, they are not nee
essary, and fully as good results are
obtained by feeding finely cracked.
well seasoned sweet grains.
The old-fasnioned pin-head oatmeal
made an ideal food of just the right
consistency for baby chicks. and could
be fed from the first Corn and wheat.
when cracked to about this size, make
splendid chick feed, even for the first
feeds. Undoubtedly it is still better to
POULTRY-Gal 2--March 81
feed all three than one or two ONLY.
The present steel cut oatmeal is avail
able in most every market, and can
be fed for few days at the begin
ming of q chicks life. Commercial
chick feeds are as a rule good. They
have two good qualities to recommend
them-variety and consistency-as
they usually contain several kinds of
seeds and grain, and these are cracked
to the right size.
Litter Feeding
Chicks do better when kept on fine
litter and when these feeds are scat
tered at least four or five times a day
in this litter. Hay chaff, if sweet and
free from mold and decay, makes an
ideal litter, as does cut alfalfa or
clover. These are quite expensive.
however and should not be used when
cheaper suitable litter can be OBJ
tanned.
Even early in life chicks need green
food. When not on range, which pro-
Vides such an abundant quantity, it
must be supplied. Many kinds may be
used, such as cahbages, lettuce, ap-
pies, etc. 1t is best always not to at
tempt to cut this fine enough so the
chicks can eat it, but to cut In slices
or cakes so they are obliged to peck
out minute particles. In this form
green food aids digestion and also
Keeps the chicks busy.
Second Stage of Chicks Life
The second stage, or what may be