Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-06
FOODS AND FEEDING
METHODS For BABY CHICKS
Small Quantities Of Easil y-Di-
gested Ingredients at Fre-
quent Intervals.
Need for Variety, Green Stufs
and Plenty of Exercise.
BY j. Raymond kessler
Practical PouItrvman

Practical PoutrVrnan
The thing Of greatest importance in
feeding the newly Matched chicks is
/ to feed often at regular intervals and
IN small quantities. Tho newly
hatehed chick. like any other new
born creature. has delicate digestive
organs which must not be oyertaxed
| by heavy foods, nor by excessive
quantities. Therefore. The cndeayor
of the poulryman must bc To feed
easily digestcd foods nj frequent IN
teryas
During the first week IN particular the
chicks should never be allowed III they
| will cat Such a practice is crrtJlin -
bring about bowel disorders The i'm
pott4ncr of hnW spon the chicks should
hc fcd has probaily been ovcrcetuated
Onr of the hf.st plans to follow in this
rcg3rd Is 10 slIpW no first feed Is soon ne
he chicks show . desire for It Newly
hatched chicks when first taken TO the
hroader usually show a desire 10 sleep,
n which tune up feed IS needed As soon
~ they hccome rcstivc aud tart picking
n things. ur If olch other. y IS time
10 supply u little easily dIqt~sted feed
WHAT To FFED Al FIRST.
One of the best lords j. = mixttrc Of
coueI uarts stale Tread crumbs and ont
meal tnlxed with hard boiled egg. using
about SIX part al the bread crlunb mix
ture. to ono ground egg she'll included
The egR and rrutuie should be thoroughly
mlscd. AMI little chuck sIto grlt added
| The cgr Will make the mxturc sufficiently
MOST
Ihls mixture should 10 fcd oxclu=iveIy
fof the first three DAYS IN small anWfnff
five tunes a dav Large sheots of heavy
brown paper arc useful 70 feed upon
during isle first week After that sfn.Il
tfalqls ulav bc nsod but n first even
to smallest If troughs are too largc for
neWlg Eatchod chicks Sprcial carr
qhoutd Ee takon that sufficient room T.
provided far ri he chicks to reach the
feed without crowdIng The first day
ibr feed NAV br left before tho chicks
for half an hour. as they are Just learn
lHg how - eat Int after that ail
feed should fc removed after 4 has bNen
bcforc tie flock for T. minutes
GRsl~ THE FOURTH ptY.
About Inc fourth day u i vel, - allow
the doca u ltttlc grain fecd IT two
nf the feelings and the bread crumb
mixture at Tho other three feedings
Tho first few feelings ~ gram should be
spread on sheets of paper or else on
tie bare floor. an hat the chicks can learn
what the gram really IS after 'hat al
gram should bc scattered ~ hight hitter
H. make the chicks exercise
Nv way oi adding variety 10 the bread
cr!lrf.b mixture It Ie q good plan to nolstfn
flie futxture with milk for one feeding,
rottapc cheese Or beef broth NJ another
time, and the hard boiled egg at other
fce.ilngs This plan keeps ne chicks
in an expcctant mood, ready Tor their
feed 4 uhcrcals the same iced every day
is likely to airfelt them
MANY poultrymen have found keeping
dr. y heat bran before the chicks all
the time very beneficial to growth and
an excellent preventive Of constipation,
- frequently found in young chicks.
FErDixG mASGELs TO CHICKS
AFTER the first week daily supply of
green feed u absolutely necessary 70 the
health of the flock Lettuce, Inangels
and grass clippings are excellent Tor TINS
nurposc Fresh grass clippings are Frst
choice. followed by mangels. Grass eiip-
n,ngS should never be allowed very young
chicks unless finely cut, since long pieces
of tough grass when swallowed by baby
chicks are likely 70 mat IN the crop. c4us-
ing digestive disorders 4 better way
Of feeding grass Is to place a fresh sod IN the
pen allowing the iock 70 pick az II AZ will
In feeding m3ngels TO chicks small
roots should be selected. cut into pieces
50 that the chicks can pick 81 them. 1t
II FREQUENTLY necessary to scrape the
beets with a knife for the first lew days,
IN order 10 teach he chicks 10 eat them
However. they will soon learn 70 handle
+, the roots without help, since most chicks
: are very fond of m4ngels.
Cabbage cannot be recommended ~
A green feed for young chicks, because
II - likely 70 cag9e bowel disorders
!, For very young chicks sprouted oa'S
are not to be recoInmended.
Drinking water should be supplied
from the frst The first few days IL h
we'll to temper the water somewhat, bu
afteryayd cold water should be supplIeu
Milk for the chicks 10 drink l. excellent
hut not necessary Water should also e
supplied when milk Is allowed the chicks
Hoppers Of chick size oyster she'll gri
and charcoal smay be placed before ia
chicks after they are two weeks old, bU
not before that time. since very youn
chicks are jllst as likely 10 hll up o
these indigestblc materials as on teel
However. all of the first feed should 80.
tam a little grit
FEEDING TIL THIRD WIEN
The method OF feeding given ahoy
should be continued for the first thre
weeks Then the bread srumb mINtu
should he s.&d1ally Displaced by th
following mash mixture 100 pound
corn meal zoo pounds middllngs. ~
pounds wheat bran, 100 pounds hnsee
meal 100 pounds ground oats thulls site
OUT. 100 pounds alfalfa meal and q
nonndS beet scraps. This mash shouI
b, moistened with milk or water m
fe1 tw4ce a l,v. a0ux.nS grain at IN
9th h.r thrae fee ngs