Milford chronicle., 1918-02-08
Success Depends Upon The Rails
ing Not The Hatching Of Chicks
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights RSSerTld1

sudden change in atmosphere while
the change is being made from incu-
bator to brOOder.
! Following the transfer OF the chicks
I from incubator to brOoder the ques-
/ ton of proper feed is the next thlng
/ to receive your attention. Nature has
supplied the chick with sufficient food
to last for from 48 to 72 hours, and
I for that reason no food of any kind
should be given them during this pc
riod. This is where many persons let
their sympathies run away with them,
and feeling for the little beauties who
constantly chirp, they give food, only
to regret it afterwards.
1t is as much the nature OF the
chick to chirp as it is to pick con-
stantly at the ground, seemingly in
search of food, and no special atten-
ton should be paid to them from this |
score. goodly portion of the yOlk |
of the egg is taken into the stomach |
of the chick before Matching and this |
is sufficient for its sustenance for the |
period named. 1t requires no other |
food and none should be given. Extra
nourishment only causes disorders
which many times cause death.
The brooder should be provided
with a good light litter, such as al
falfa meal. in which they might
scratch. This furnishes exercise from
the very start besides, the brooder
should be well ventilated and lighted
After the lapse of the fast period they
may be given their first meal which
should consist of grated or rolled
stale-bread crumbs and hard-boiled
egg. No other food save this should
II l,a Of !
After this they may be given finely
ground grain food known as chick
starter. This should also be scattered
in the litter to induce the chicks to
take the exercise so essential to their
health and development.
The problem of feeding young chicks
is one of great importance and has '
been largely experimental with. [
Many raisers differ materially upon I
the matter of feeding young chicks ]
but my manner of feeding is one of j
he successful ways If desirable, the a
mixture of bread crumbs and egg may \
De moistened with milk that has been ]
icalded. and the mixture then squeezed =
almost dry or to a crumbly consis-
ency. Then too, the egg may or ma :
lent 1ef rease Rs9a ccopt ,s,s sraesir9 the es
sential points being the Withholding
of all food for at least As hours and
then one weeks feeding on the bread
crumbs.
When first given food the chicks
should receive it almost five times a
day, and this should be gradually
diminished as they grow, until the
normal feelings are reached. Only
a sufficient quantity should be given
at each feeding that will be cleaned
up. If any food is left over it should
| be removed at once or destroyed to
prevent contamination.
AS the chicks grow and develop,
other and coarser grain food may be
substituted for the chick starter until
they can be fed the regular size given
to the older hens
In order that proper development
might result it is necessary to give
the chicks other foods, such as bran.
which should be kept before them
constantly when in the baby stage;
also, a quantity of bone meal AS !
they grow, however, this may be |
changed to a regular growing mash" /
which is somewhat similar to the lay |
ing mash. Fine grit and charcoal |
should likewise be kept before the |
youngsters at all times. Other impor- |
tant requisites are fresh water and
green food, and these should never be
neglected
In order to prevent white diarrhoea.
so common among chicks, the drink
ing water should be treated with car
bolic acid This will entirely elimin-
ate all traces of the disorder. Place
eight drops of white carbolic acid into
each quart of drinking water, and be
sure to allow them no other water.
If these suggestions are followed L
you should have little or no trouble in 4
raising a large percentage of your
hatchings and much profit, otherwise l
lost, will be saved Il
Poultry Pointers.
When using the carbolic acid re-
ferred to above, in the drinking water.
it is a good plan to boil the water first
and put in the acid when cool. While
this is not absolutely necessary. yet 1
would advise it.
The tops of sprouted oats, chopped
fine. make most excellent green food II
for the chicks. Try it. But if YOU
cannot supply this, don't neglect to
give them some form of green food.
Next week we will endeavor to helm
you help Old Biddy perform her tasks.