South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-09


% pay strict attention 20 details.
For the first few weeks the chicks
must be fed frequently and careful
is and the feeder must supply the
elements most essential TO the de-
Velopment OF the youngsters. AS the
chicks grow the ration must De
changed 10 take care OF their in
creased requirements Sanitation is
also a big factor II we expect strong.
healthy stock.
One OF the oldest rules Of poultry
keeping is that food should be
withheld from the chicks during the
first "a or As hours. This rule is as
sound today as il was in the early
days OF the poultry industry. Ma
ture has provided food for this
period by enclosing in the chicks
abdomen what remains OF the yolk
OF the egg just before the chick
emerges from the shell. The di-
gestive organs feed upon this yolk
material and thus sustain the chick
while IL is getting strong on its legs
and becoming acquainted with its
new surroundings This same nat
ural food supply also enables poul-
trymen 10 ship young chicks for
several hundred miles as soon as
they are taken from the incu bator,
with a remarkably small percentage
OF loss. Thus. the first important
point in successful feeding is TO
withhold food from the newly
Matched chicks for at least 80 hours.
Menu For First Three Days.
Since the digestive apparatus of
the new born chick is easily upset,
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
breadcrumbs or oatmeal mixed to-
gether, fills the bodily requirements
of the chicks very satisfactorily at
this age. If the egg mixture is used
the eggs should be boiled hard and
then run through a food cutter.
shells included. One part OF the
ground egg is then mixed with two
parts OF breadcrumbs or oatmeal by
rubbing the ingredients together
thoroughly with the hands. To this
mixture add a liberal quantity OF
fine, sharp chick grit so mat il Will
he taken into the system along with
the food. Some successful feeders
make a practice of spreading the
grit on the floor of the brooder in
stead of putting il into the food.
Either method will answer. but If
both are practced the feeder can
rest assured that the chicks will get
a sufficient supply Of this very es-
sential material
one Of the most practical and
satisfactory feeding devices for
young chicks is "a flat half-inch
board six 10 Is inches long. with a
half-inch square rail tackled around
the edges The feed is sprinkled on
these wooden plates and the rail
keeps the chicks from scattering 1t
about the floor. Again. il is diff
cult TO determine just how much
the chicks viii consume and when
given on plates it can be removed
after they have had IL before them
for a sufficient length of time. The
eLg mixture should be given five
times daily for the first three days
and allowed 70 remain for about L.
minutes at each feeding. When the
plates are removed a little of the
mixture can be sprinkled on the
floor OF the brooder for the chicks
20 pick az. Only a very little should
be left since steady development de
ponds largely on having the chicks
hungry for every meal
The chicks should Doe taught 10
drink as soon as they are transfer
red 90 the breeder. If skim milk OF
buttermilk Is available. either sweet
or sour. il should be given in the
place Of water from the very start
The early feedins OF milk starts he
youngsters 10 growing quickly and is
one of the best preventives known
for white Diarrhea" and kindred
digestive disorders. BY dipping the
bills OF q few chicks i'm the milk they
viii soon learn 10 drink and the
others will then quickly catch ON.
Substituting Cheaper Foods.
After the third DAY the egg mix
ture can be gradually replaced by
more permanent Tations which are
less expensive 90 feed. IN making
this change give a feed OF CONNER
Cial chick scratch i'm place OF the
egg mixture the first thing i'm the
morning and for the last feed at
night In a day or two the remain
Ing three feeds OF egg mixture can
be gradually replaced with a mash
composed OF 10 pounds bran. I'VE
pounds cornmca'. five pounds mid
dlings. and two and one-half pounds
sifted beef scraps. The main point
in changing the food of young
chicks is 20 GO it gradually so that
they can easily accustom themselves
20 the new foods. By the beginning
OF the second Wees the change in
the 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- siven the
first thing in the morning again at
noon and for the last feed at night:
and the latter at 10 "a. M and o.
m This schedule is followed until
the chicks are three weeks old
Greens i'm the Chicks Dict
OF course. green food must rot be
omitted from the feeding schedule