Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-03

widely used Ten pounds of corn meal, |
10 pounds of wheat bran, two pounds of |
bone meal or graduated bone, and one |
half pound of granulated charcoal. If it |
is impossible to supply the chicks with |
milk In any form. add half pound of sft- |
ed beef scrap to the dry mash after the
first week Gradually increase the beef |
scrap until it amounts to about four |
pounds at the end Of a month, at which |
time the bone meal can be reduced or |
eliminated.
Ready dry mashes are procurable for
all ages of poultry and for all purposes.
as are the scratch grain mixtures, which
will relieve the poultry raiser of the
work of formulating and mixing. Good
brands sold by reliable dealers are to
be recommended.
AS previously suggested, after the sec
ond week the number of feelings can
be reduced to three day. The lightest
feelings are given in the morning to
encourage exercise. The heaviest feed
ing is given at night. so that every chick
may go under the hover with full
crop. The last meal should be given
about an hour before shutdown. Scratch
grains should be fed on clean board
or sheet of heavy paper for the first meal
or two, to acquaint the chicks with this
form of food. But as soon as they are
educated to II, the scratch grains should
be scattered in the litter. where the
chicks are obliged to dig and work for
! them Such is the office of the scratch
! grain ration. If grain is fed in hopper
| by itself the chicks are likely to gorge
themselves, following which they will
| sit around, loaf and become sluggish. An
| overtaxed digestion and other ills re-
| suit.
ACCESSORIES TO BILL OF-FARE
Small broken grit and oyster shells
should be kept before the brood at all
| times after the chicks are week old
1t is unwise to put these articles before
them at first. because some of the chicks
are likely to mistake the grit and shells
| for food and fill up on them Chicks
have poor judgment in this respect The
early feelings of soft food should be
sprinkled with fine grit; sharp sand will
answer the purpose.
Unless the chicks are given outdoor
| freedom on range that has abundant
plant life. where they have access to
bits of grass and other greenstuffs, posi-
1 lively they must be given succulence in
some other form. such as lettuce. sprout-
ed oats. lawn clippings or ground vege-
tables-onions, mangel wurtzels, turnips.
Chicks are very fond of onions Slice a
good sized onion for each 50 chicks; cut
| 1t so as to form rings and the chicks
will tussle and fight for the pieces as
though they were worms. Mangel writ
zels-stock beets-are also good; for best
results they should be shredded or chop
ped very fine The tops or shoots of the
sprouted oats should be fed to chicks,
not the roots. which are likely to con-
tain seed huls and mold spores. Give
the roots to the older fowls
Glover, alfalfa and rape are excellent
green foods for chicks, and wherever
possible the brood should be given free
dom on land where these crops are grow
ing. 1t is the most convenient way to
furnish green food. and the cheapest way.
If a grass range is not available, substi
tutes must be found. as above. and fed
in a fresh, crisp state. When green's
wilt and dry they are not appetizing, and
are. therefore. not eaten heartily.
Avoid rearing brood on bare soil and
a wooden floor. unless greens are brought
In from other sources, because the
chicks well-being demands succulent
plant food in some form. Greenstuffs
supply them with roughage for crop de-
veivpment, mineral elements 10 aIu III
the digestion of concentrated foods, and
certain tonic properties which sustain
the appetite If chicks are given I'M
limited range on a grassy tract they are
almost certain to thrive, even though the
rest of the feeding system is seriously
J defective. Witness sturdy farm broods
which thrive under the most meager
care, or no particular care at all, except
the mother hen, frequently fed nothing
but cracked corn.
Ip Snch
surely die On range they thrive, be-
cause pasture is the greatest panacea in
the world for fowls Insects, worms,
i. mineral substance. tidbits Of greens and
r such like which the chicks hunt for con-
stantly, and in so doing gain exercise,
constitute those elements which make up
a balanced ration. Moral: Get the chicks
on Mother Earth as soon as possible.
WATCH FOR BAD HABITS
When the chicks are n week old they
begin to assert themselves. Then IL tho
I weather is too inclement for outdoor
r freedom the brooder operator must see
: IN II that the brood is kept actively
, working in the litter. Idleness must he
discouraged as much as possible other
I wise IL Is almost certain to lead the
a chicks into evil ways-bad habits
1 Toe picking and other forms of can
: nibalism are invariably the products of
q iniudicious feeding and idleness. Harm
, llessly inclined at first. few chicks will
nick at another's toes an abrasion
o starts; the victims toes commence to
h bleed. the sight OF which seems to thrill
a the others with bloodthirsty impulse
y thew get a taste Of the blood and fight
q vciousiy for 1t. until very soon their
victim is rendered helpless and subse-
a ouently is partially devoured.
r In a surprisingly short time the habit
spreads throughout the entire flock. and
In where chicks are brooaed N large num-