Milford chronicle., 1918-02-22
Caring For Little Chicks.
By }. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
IN RiRhks Rese1redl

q opment. Whicn uSualiy decays thelr idy'
e ing until the following spring. This is one
Of the reasons for the loss Of money in the
poultry raising game, and however much
there might be in. chickens under favor
able conditions. you might as well give
up the idea unless you are prepared to
; give them your best attention.
Chicks Matched in the spring should be
the real factors in your fall production Of
eggs, the time when they can be disposed
Of at a profit If the fowls must be car
ried over until the following spring be-
fore they start to produce, there is fault
somewhere, and it is more often yours
than the chickens. Feed, as well as the
price Of eggs. is high in the winter sea-
son. and when one is compelled to pur-
chase food, and receive no eggs in return,
his expenses are doubly great and he
cannot hope to make a success Of the
business.
In order TO obtain quick growth, rapid
development, healthier BIRDS and last but
not least, fall layers. hatch early, and then
supply a well balanced ration Of fat-form-
ing foods, in addition to that picked up
on the free range. The "free-range-an
corn-ration" so much practiced by farm
ers. produces shaggy fowls which suffer
AAtiA bUWNA AA0uDAG1 anu Intestinal ulSOf- ]
ders. Free range is by no means neces- !
sary to the raising Of chicks. but if al |
lowed, the food gathered therefrom should |
be offset by well balanced ration.
Don't forget that during the first few
days the chick should have no food other
than what nature has provided. The first
food should consist Of grated stale bread
crumbs, with which may be mixed finely
kssa nrfHs
this for one week put the chicks on a
finely -cracked grain ration. which should
be given at least five times a day at the
start. As the chicks grow the number Of
feedings may be diminished and the chick
starter discontinued. OF course, coarser
grains taking its place Never give more
food at each feeding than will be entirely
cleaned up. This prevents waste and
prevents the chicks srom eating grains
hat have been contaminated, which ma
urally follows after leaving food lie about.
If it be possible, throw all grain into
light litter to give the birds exercise
n scratching it out; this is as essential
o the little fellows as 1t is to the larger
irds. But the chicks need more than
his grain food to properly develop them
nd establish quick growth. Bran is one
nd it should be kept constantly before
hem at all times. Bone meal, sifted
eefscrap, fine grit and charcoal should
lso be kept before them that they might
elp themselves at will Hundreds Of
hicks are carried off annually by white
iarrhea, and this is the one big thing
18th which the breeder has to contend.
ut into each quart of drinking water
ghf drnng Of white
le chicks no other water to drink save
lie "doped" kind and your diarrhea trou-
e will be solved. Keep this before the
rds until they are nfteen weeks old
nd III wager this disease will have no
)rrors for you
AS the chicks grow the bran, bonemeal
ID sifted beefscraps may be discontinu-
for good growing mash which will
nd to develop them more qquickiy. A
'od growing mash may be made by mix
g two parts bran, one part beefscrap,
e part midlings, one part meal or chop,
e part glutton meal, one part alfalfa
cal This should be kept before them
ways. A daily allowance Of some form
green food is as essential to the growth
d development Of the chick as it is to
e laying hen, and while any form OF
cen food will answer, I believe that
routed oats are the best and cheapest.
Get into the business right or get out"
mighty good rule for the poultry
eeder to follow. If the business is worth
ything to you then you should give it
lr best attention in order to reap the
'fits. II there is no profit in it for you
an get QUIT is less costly. The
lltry business is not one that will run
elf by any means, and the sooner you
llize this the better off you will be.
{ the above suggestions are followed
some equally good ones you will meet
n fair degree Of success and make -
ney; otherwise you win lose all you put -
the business.