Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-21
FEEDING FORMULAS AND
FACTS FOR BABY CHICKS
The Safe Plan Is to Give Small Guam
titles at Regular Intervals
and Right Time.
MAKE STUDY OF SMALL DETAILS
Some Suggestions MS TO Watcr-Somo
About Grcenstuffs-Thc Matters
of Shells, Grit and OF Charcoal.
Start or Right.

chick feeder to furnish only a little
as not to orcrax the delicate dises-
ing duTinE The first t week is Almost
sure 10 bring about digestive dsor-
der RS. which usually result, in death,
chicks should be fed has been rather
1S.v oyer estimated, the writer beiisves.
feeding the chicks as soon as they
show a desire for feed. When the
chicks are first placed in the. broodcr
need no feed. AS soon as they become
pmI and and begin picking ~ things
One OF, Of tic hes, mixtures for the
first feed is equal parts by measure
meal. mixed with hard boiled eggs,
using about six parts of the bread
erumb to o., one part ground cEs. shell
be thoroughly mixed and a small
amount OF fine grit. added. The mix
the egg, SLOPPY miStures are are very very
undesirable, and arc one of the chief
causes of bowel disorders
should be fed exclusively for the first
three days In small quantities five
times day ~ The The best way Of feeding
mixture on sheets of heavy brown pa
per, Later. small troughs may be
tho smallest of troughs. The poultry
man should see TO /, tina: there is
feed may be- left befoIe the o os f foT
an hour, since they Will not know how
10 eat very we'll. but after learning il
is best TO remove all uneatcn feed In
fifteen minutes.
Chicks Feed After Three Days.
About the, third or fourth, day the
brood should be allowed chick feed at
crumb mixture for the other three
feelings The. first few feelings Of
should be ssen can on sheets Mao
grain iS-afterwardS il should be scat
tered in light litter,
feeding ~" !, IS IS Veil 70 mix The 6reads
crumb mixture with hard boiled egg
for one feeding. milk for another. and
perhaps cottage cheese or beef broth
for another.
After the chicks are week old
daily supply of some green feed. such
should be provided. Grass clippings
arc best; nrangels and lettuce arc also
young chicks. small roots should be
selected, and cut open SO the chicks
can pick at them II Is sometimes
knife Cor the first few days. TO teach
the chicks 10 cat ii. However, they
soon learn TO eat the roots and seldom
Cabbage hardly can be. called good
green food for young chicks since II
frequently causes diarrhea. Sprouted
the first four weeks, and the chicks
should never be allowed the entire cod
CT sprouted oats until they are past
go supply water at start.
Water in small fountains should be
days it is best TO warm the water
somewhat. but after. that fresh cold
water should be supplied At least three
Hoppers of grit, oyster shell and
flock when two weeks old. bu, not
Chicks arc Likely to eat TOO freely Of
these accessories. Chicks do not seem
n ina;eria!s for the firss few days Of
The method of feeding given above
weeks. Then the breadcrumb mixture
may be gradually displaced by mash
mixture nt made up ,o as follows; 400
middlings. 200 pounds wheat bran. 100
pounds Iinsced meal. 100 hounds ground
100 p9uads Alfalfa meal and
water and Jed twice a day, while the
making live feelings a day.
About the time the mash mixture is
II baf found o5
place of the fine chick feed. What is
known as ,growing-feed mixture is
titles Of these feeds are needed IL is
more economical usually 10 buy some
of tho ready-mixcd brands.
Many poultrymcn find that dry wheat
bran kept before the chicks in small
troughs all the time is a great help in
and in, avoiding constipation. 1t is
also Il help in developing the capacity
Of nc crop. thus enabling the chick
greater and quicker growth. 1t is a
good plan to replace the troughs of dry
wheat bran with hoppers of the mash
is being fed moist. This plan of keep
ing dry mash before the chicks in
two months OF the chicks life.
On Range mt Eight Weeks.
the number Of feelings may be re-
duced TO four Il day--two each Of mash
and grain. fed alternately, After the
Der OF feelings should be reduced to
three day-grain morning and night.
With moist mash At noon: At this time
range if possible.
II il is desired to use the dry-mash
moist mash should be gradually re-
duccd i'm quantity. and in "a short time
entirely eliminated: or if 1t is desired
allowance OF dry mash can be gradual
~ reduced and discontinued. while
greater quantity OF moist mash IL fed
at the one mash feeding. Either one
or the other method should he adopted
and the change made at this time
when the chicks will notice it the
least: The growing feed grain mixture
should be gradually changed at this
time TO equal parts OF corn, wheat and
oats.
Very few poultrymen find it feasible
10 start tho flock Of young chicks on
dry-mash mixtures, since best results
arc usually obtained by tho use Of
some moist mixture during the first
few weeks Of feeding
ltnw Reef unJ Suct.
Raw beef ana beef suet have been
round beneficial for young chicks. aud
most pouitrymcn consider them
much better source OF animal food
than beef scraps. Where a fresh sup
ply can be obtained at "a rcasonah bic
! cost they should he used by all means
In FEEDING raw beef IL should be
/ nncly ground in a meat chopper and
| FED while perfectly fresh. as spoiled
| Dcci viii cause serious trouble. II Is
| vel To feed tho beef al pant OF Il
moist mash. thoroughly mixing H. into
! the mach 10 disguise the beef some
what. There is danger or making the
! chicks vicious and bloodthirs,y if il is
icd alone; The best way Ia to feed Il
| little each day. using IL in about the