Milford chronicle., 1915-04-16

month when chickens are Matched b
the natural method of incubation Tor witt
hens), as it is after all, the raising ant
not the Matching of the chicks to whicl
most failures may be attributed, it nigh
be well at this time to let fall few hint
} for the benefit of those who are engaged il
- the poultry industry, and more particu
larly to the smaller and younger breeders
n After the period of incubation, and thu
Il youngsters are Matched, the hen SHOULD
be treated prior to placing the chick
Il with ber. This treatment consists of I
i good busting with some good powder, il
order to rid her body as much as is pos
Il sible of lice II this important point bI
neglected, and the chickens given to be-
while she is infested, the little ones viii
soon be completely covered with the par
asites and you will note their dropping
off from day to day.
Old Biddy should be given good coat
ing of insect powder, and then rubbed
we'll into the feathers at their rsOts, and
even to the skin of the hens body, as it
is here that the little villainous pests turk.
The brood coops should be particularly
attended to-it will do but little good to
chase them from the hen if they are al
lowed to sojourn in the coop. Unless
you make up your mind to fight these
parasites from every angle, you had bet
ter spare yourself the trouble of raising a
flock, as it will amount to but little in
the end. You will be compelled to fight
hard and continuously in order to keep
lice down. 1t would be we'll to paint.the
inside of your brood coops and poultry
houses too, for that matter, with solu
ton of one part coal oil to three parts
crude carbolic acid. This will get rid of
all the lice, and with their going, half of
your poultry troubles will be over The
brood coop should also he placed on a
good grassy spot and moved from time
to time while in use.
As sunshine and fresh air are two of
the most beneficial things to the young
chicks, and you should by all means ar
range to give them a goodly quantity OF
/ both but care mast be taken to avoid
drafts. Don't worry about their getting
too cold. Just provide shelter for the hen |
and she will amply take care of the young !
sters and keep them warm enough.
/ See to it that the brood coop is on a |
slightly raised place, or at least one well |
drained, rather than in low spot where |
the water will stand-it is far better that
the youngsters do not get their feet wet,
particularly when SO young
Provide the brood coop with a wire run
where the chicks may be confined Hntil
the dew is off the grass, or when it is
stormiDg or rain is approaching.
After reaching the age of two weeks the
chicks may be allowed larger run if it
is possible to give it to them, but they
should always be so confined that they I
can be kept from going into wet grass.
This is also true of them when they are
growing, and even when they reach the
age of maturity, as nothing will cause roup
quicker than wet grass. h
Don't be cruel enough, as many do, to !
tie the hen by foot with piece of string ]
to stake driven in the ground TO keep
her from stTaying too far away from her :
quarters Better keep her confned in )
small wire coop than to resort to such :
cruel methods. While on the other hand, {
by tying her there is great danger of her :
killing some of the chicks. II one or the /,
other must be confined it is better to {
coDfiue the chicks, for in this manner, =
the hen will not stay very far from her
brood.
In the care of chicks the question of :
feed lie one of grave importance and must
be given your undivided attention. Don't
give the youngsters any feed for at least 4
thirty six hours after they are brought +
into the world Most persons, while they ]
adhere to this method in the care of in +,
cubator hatched chicks, disregard it when q
they hatch by natural methods of incu- a
baton, and think that this part of the .
feeding problem can be attended to bv
mother hen. Phis is a mistake; they
should not under any conditions have q
food for at least this period of time. In o
order to best insure their not getting it. a
do not give the chicks to old Biddy until is
they are az least that old, as it is a habit il
OF the hen to scratch for food for her e.
young as soon as they are given to her.
The first food for the little fellows should d
consist OF grated stale bread crumbs or Il
bread, placed in the oven until crispy and II
then rolled fine. To each of these forms, a
however, may be added, if desired, finely b
grated hard boiled egg, using one egg to T
q cup OF bread crumbs o
For the first week the youngsters should 4
be fed five times day, and at each feed e.
ing give as much as they will clean up q
readily. When they are through eating Il
clean up that portion which is left and "
new food given at the next feeding. Don't ct
allow the pick over food 70 remain after 81
they are through eating 81
In addition to the feeding of bread az
,rumbs, keep before the chicks all the SC
lime a quantity Of fine bran, and allow
hem to eat all of it that they want In
addition to the bran, fine grit and char
,eal should also be kept before them
This is absolutely necessary for their
health and should not be neglected. n'
Many persons have a desire to substi
ute sand for the grit, and while little Ri
VI it is all right, they should not be given co
90 much. 1t will not, however. take ei
be place of the grit as it is liable to cause B.
crop bound condition HI
After about one weeks feeding of the III
read crunbs, start them on good COM
nercial chick starter if it is to be had II Al
ot, then q mixture of as many kinds of "a
racked grains as ynu can get will be q MI
ood substitute. When you begin the Jo
seding Of cracked grains provide a place m
there it can be fed in light litter, such w
3 cut alfalfa. and make them work for
/, thus furnishing exercise. TN
As the chicks grow. reduce the number %
feedings per day until YOU get down to tn
Tree, which should he continued at least n,
ntll such time that the hen and her tel