Evening star., 1917-06-03

keeping is that food should be with
held from the chicks during the first
twenty-four or forty-eight hours. This
rule is as sound today as 1t was in the
early days of the poultry industry.
Nature has provided food for this period
by inclosing in the chicks abdomen
what remains of the yolk of the egg
just before the chick emerges from the
shell. The digestive organs feed upon
this yolk material and thus sustain the
chick while it Is getting strong on its
legs and becoming acquainted with Its
new surroundings.
The first few feeds must be composed
of soft. easily digested foods. Some
thing like stale bread soaked in milk,
or hard-boiled eggs and dry bread
crum bs or oatmeal mixed together. flls
the bodily requirements of the chicks
very satisfactorily at this age. II the
egg mixture is used. the eggs shoulo
be boiled hard and then run through
food cutter. shells included. One part
of the ground egg is then mixed with
two parts of bread crumbs or oatmeal
by rubbing the ingredients together
thoroughly with the hands. To this
mixture add liberal quantity OF hne.
sharp chick grit SO that 1t Will be taken
into the system along with the food.
Some successful feeders make prac-
tiee of spreading the grit on the moor
of the brooder instead of putting 1t
into the food. Either method Will an
swer, but IL both are practiced. the
feeder can rest assured that the chicks
will get sufficient supply of this es-
sential material
One of the most practical and salts
factory feeding devices for young
chicks is fiat half-inch board six to
eight inches wide and from twelve to
eighteen inches long, with a half-incn
square rail tackled around the edges
The feed is sprinkled on these wooden
from scattering it about the floor.
The egg mixture should be given hve
times daily for the first three Gays
and allowed to remain for abont h1teen n
minutes at each feeding "hsn .ne
plates are removed little of ,se mix.
ture can be sprinkled on the hoor OF
the brooder for the chicks to pick at
Only a very little should be LEFT. since
steady development depends largely on
having the chicks hungry for every
meal.
The chicks should be taught to drink
as soon as they are transferred to the
brooder. If skim milk or buttermilk x
is available, either sweet or sour, II
from the very start. By dipping the
bills of a few chicks in the milk they
will soon learn to drink. and the others
will then quickly catch on.
After the third day the egg mixture
can be gradually replaced by more per-
manent rations which are less ex-
pensive to feed. In making this change
give feed of commercial chick scratch
in place OF the egg mixture the frst
thing in the morning and for the last
remaining three feeds of egg mixture
can be gradually replaced with mash
composed of ten pounds bran, five
pounds corn meal. five pounds mid
hol NM n q
sifted beef scraps. The main point
in changing the food of young
chicks is to do 1t gradually, so that
they can easily accustom themselves
to the new foods: BY the beginning
rations should be worked out, so that
the chicks get three feeds of the
scratch food and two OF the mash The
former can be given the first thing In
the morning. again at noon and for
the last feed at night, and the latter
at 10 am. and pm. This schedule Is
followed until the chicks are three
weeks old.
OF course. green food must not be
omitted from the feeding schedule for
three weeks or until the chicks are put
on range or grass-covered yards. For
the first ten days few tender lettuce
leaves. swiss chard similar greens
lawn clippings, cut clover OF sprouted
oats can be given daily until the young
sters are allowed the liberty OF yards
or ranges which provide this part Of
their ration. .
do with the general health and thrift
ness of the chicks apply more generally
to the brooder and Its environment. and
not so much to the actual feeding oper
ations. However. 1t Is safe plan to
make sure that all the receptacles used
for feeding are absolutely clean. This
is especially true of the vessels used for
milk. which should be scalded daily.
The mash and scratch feed are very apt
to contain musty and moldy grain or
partly decomposed beef scraps. which If