Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-08

then more resisting to both the juices
OF the digestive tract and to the mechani
cal action of the gizzard. Foremrly it
was the generally accepted notion that
the first food of young chicks should BE
soft, or semi-soft; az bread and milk, hard
boiled eggs. or soft mash, but while such
food is well for a few DAYS If fed judi
ciously and for pleasant variety when
chicks are given different foods for
principal diet, they are not necessary,
and fully as good results are obtained by
feeding finely cracked well seasoned
sweet grains.
The od-fashioned piu-head oat meal
made an ideal food of just the right con-
sistenCy for baby chicks. and could he
fed from tho first. Corn and wheat,
when cracked to about tbs size, make
splendid chick feed, even for the first
feeds. Undoubtedly il is still better to
feed all three than one or two only. The
present steel-cut oat meal is available
in most every market, and can be fed
for a few days at the beginning of
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 ana grain, and
these are cracked To the right size
LITTER FEEDING
Chicks do better when kept on fine
litter and when these feeds are scattered
al 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
4
not be used when a cheaper suitable lit
ter can he obtained.
Even early in life chicks need green
food. When not on range, which pro-
vides such an abundant quantity, 1t must
be supplied Many kinds may be used,
such cabbaees, lettuce, apples, etc. 1t
is best always not to attempt 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
termed the fcathering age. may be said
to extend from two weeks to six weeks
Of age. Coarser and somewhat cheaper
foods may bo fed. The finely cracked
grains may he now gradually replaced by
wheat and cracked corn Of the ordinary
size. The number of hard grain feeds
may be reduced gradually from five to
three.
At 10 days or two weeks of age II
Is advisable To feed dry mash. The
gradients and proportions may vary con-
Nv tJkf l1ou off
determined by tho chicks health and
growth. Equal parts OF wheat bran. corn
meal ana ground oats which have been
passed through a fine sieve to remove
the hulls make a mash that Is about
as good as those Of moro complica ted
composition, During this age, the sys-
tenn demands large amounts of protein
and ash Toprovide these constituents add
to this mash Ave per cent of beef scraps
that have been well and thoroughly pre-
pared and are sweet, and from 10 to IS
per cent. Of the bone meal
The third stage. or what might he
termed tho range age" may be said
to exist after the chicks are from six
or eight weeks old until maturity. Near
~ all dangers OF losses by disease hav-
ing now passed. all sorts of economists,
both in foods and labor, should be prac-
ticed. such as allowing free range and
hopper feelings etc.
PLACING THE HOUSE.
Place the house or coop so that II re-
ceiyes the earliest morning rays Of the
sum. Provide shade, but let the chicks
choose it. Do not place the house in the
shade The chicks will grow faster and
will be healthier IL YOU do not. 1t has
been tried season after season
Tie essential features OF successful
chicken raising often overlooked are. TO
keep them warm, To protect them from
dampness, to destroy lice of all kinds
by rational methods, to provide grit and
an even balance OF the different kinds
of food necessary, viz, grains, greens,
grit, and mineral matter Seventy-five
to 80 per cent Of all normal chicks
Matched should be raised to maturity UNI
less destroyed by some natural enemy.
Recently Sweden placed an order for
6O,0Oo TONS of American coal, shipments