The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21
UNCHECKED GROWTH
REQUIRED BY CHICKS
Steady and Rapid Development
Is Important Factor in
Raising Poultry.
AVOID OVERCROWDING
ny J. r.

thdt the chicks that did pass from
chickhood TO maturity were not as large
or as strong or did not mature as fast
as those raised by the experienced poul-
try raiser. For this condition there is
a cause.
The beginner In any line Of business
| cannot hope to do as we'll as the more
experienced ma yet with living ex-
amples near him and good advice
CLEANED from the poultry press a good
foundation for his future work IL laid
out. But even with all the advice from
the pens of those who a mads good
experience must IN a measure be the
Anal stepping stone to success, and this
cannot be gained In one short SEASONS
work. II Is correcting the mistakes
made and never repeating them that as
sure final success.
One, and a very important essential
to success IN poultry raising. Is the
proper rearing OF the chicks, Incubation
plays an important part and, before that
the breeding stock. But after the eggs
have been properly Matched from good.
strong stock comes one OF the most i'm
portant considerations In poultry raising,
namely, the successful rearing Of chicks.
Many a good breeder has sent to the be-
elmer the best eggs and has a the
blame OF selling eggs from scrub stock
because tho beginner neglected to raise
the stock properly, Wit the result that
tho matured stock was under weight
and OF poor shape.
II is an undisputed fac, that to obtain
the best and proper shape In n breed
the chicks must be grown properly. Many
a breeders success In the show room is
due to his knowledge of growing the
proper matings without n check. 1t
holds good on the commercial g farm.
where the winter eggs must be produced
in order TO make "A profit The expert
enced growers on these egg farms know
how TO properly grow the pullets %
they will mature at the proper time. To
grow many hundreds of pulletS and have
them checked in development would
mean a loss that even "a good spring
production could not overcome SO the
Importance OF properly grrwing tho
chicks can be readily seen.
VITA tho improved brooders now on
the market thai give uniform heat and
many OF Thorn good ventilation. the
brooding problem Is being solved rap
idly, yet there are still many hovers
that are pooly ventilated and great care
should be used IN the selection OF the
brooder.
Proper heat Ia essential. and too much
heat rather han TOO little IL desirable,
for a chilled chick during the first ter
days is as good as n dead one. Er'
treme heat is weakening. Therefore
the beginner should see hat a proper
degree OF heat Is maintained for ths
first ten days.
In the smaller hovers not more thar
Atty chicks should be placed under thu
hover. With the larger hovers. viii
capacity for 500 to 1900 chicks. one
half tina number will do better. Ir
many cases the brooders now made are
too small for fifty chicks after they
reach the age OF four to eight weeks
and n secondary brooder with more
space should be provided, or the foch
should he divided.
Again, every beginner should realize
he cannot always follow the footsteps
with the same success of the breeder Of
years Of experience. SO NJ smElle'
mock liz the best IN tho long run. ont
need not employ forced feeding methods
IL the chicks arc properly handled.
But a well balanced ration OF bran
ground oats. mcaled alfalfa, middling'
In a dry mash n placed before tn
chicks at all times after they are oigh
or ten days Ole IL good practice. Thu
writer uses 200 pounds of bran, 100 .
middlings, 100 Of ground oats, 100 ~
mealed alfalfa and Is per cent. OF higi
grade beef scraps. The best grade com
merc.a, chick feed Is scattered in tn
litter four or five times a day, until
tho chicks are eight weeks old. whel
coarser trains are fed. When milk car
be obtained cheaply enough II ts 4 vel
come addition TO the ration.
When taken from the brooder ant
placed In colony coops on range or II
yards, great care should be exercise.
that plenty OF ventilation is provided tn
chicks and that no crowdins Is necess1
tated. The poultry raiser OF the future
will recognize the fact more and more
that o~vercrowd!ng from the incubator q
maturity has caused more culls II un
dersized poultry han any other on
cause. 1t is not the cause of a gres
death rate. but is tho cause OF chicks re
ceiving setbacks that no amount Of feed
ing can overcome. one can see In tn
majority of poultry yards a larger mum
Der OF fowls than can be properly &C
/, comnodated. This ls also seen In brood
ing. Tho error Is carried on to the lay
4 ing quarters whore In the majority O
4 cases but from one 70 two square fec
, OF floor space is given 10 the fowls. Nov
| and hen the beginner will sec a care
4 full handler accomplishing the feat q
q crowding with a fair measure OF sue
cess, but sooner or later trouble will re
suit. Overcrowding both buildings an
land has brought failure to many. an
the advice against this practice shout
be needed.
. A steady development OF the chick
, can be accomplished only by carefu
= attention TO many small details. man
so small as to escape notice. Too muc
heat or too little during the early day
. Of the chicks NE will cause them 10 re-
: Ceive their first check, Placing them !
= CROWNS quarters where they are con
u PEELED to stay In poorly ventilated huild
. ings and are overcrowded after the
have been taken from the brooder or he
is the second check.
. The neglect to provide proper feed an
the absence OF green food Ia auoth,
n cause, and when the hot days Of sun
mer come tho failure 20 furnish shad
either natural or artificial. will retai
o growth. Check In the growth OF n
fowls means that much delay IN the
n maturity. the laying of tho first egg
n possibly, tho loss OF "A prize at the pou
q try show.
Il Properly growing poultry II accom-
= plished only by close attention to Il
y leading essentials. This does not mea
T. the pampering OF chicks or stock. The
q can he checked by over-ldndness. 81
V II does mean that everyone who IS su
l. cessful must pay attention TO tho know
& laws Of successful rearing, The fe,
rations OF different successful poulti
Keepers may vary slightly. but the san
foundation Is behind them. namely, I'll
mcuts TO make zone and muscle, ~
management OF the brooder nay din
slightly. but warmth ana fresh air a
- the kcynotes. The poultry quarters m,
he of different models. but ventilatlC
without drafts IL the essential soug'
- for 1NnnrA ghnNll ha nj lauNI fhra.4