The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-05-28
POINTERS FOR POULTRYMEN

NAoShCo SOlh anu Odlo III equal
parts, to which may be added about
S per cent of cracked peas or broken
rice and 2 per cent of mll1et or rape
seed. At the same time a dry mash
should be started, which may con
sist of 10 pounds of cornmeal, 10
pounds of wheat bran, pounds of
bone meal and IL pound of granu-
lated charcoal
Only as much of the scratching feed
should be given as the chicks will
scratch out of the litter in ten min
utes. A surprisingly small quantity
is ample. If the chicks have range
the dry mash may be kept before
them all the time in shallow troughs
or hoppers. If the brood is confined
indoors the mash should be accessible
for about Is minutes at each feeding
If it is impossible to supply the
chicks in any form add one-half pound
of sifted beef scrap to the dry mash
after the first week. Increase the
proportion of scrap each week until it
amounts to about four pounds at the
end of month
Feed to Encourage Exercise
After the first week the numper of
feelings may be reduced to four a
day and after the second week to
three day. In the morning the feeds
are light so as to encourage exercise.
In the late afternoon the heaviest
feed is given so that every chick may
go under the hover with a full crop
This last meal should be given abouf
an hour before shutdown
The best way to feed the soft mix
lures is on boards or heavy sheets CT
cardboard. Tin plates or trays are
also useful. Never feed the moist
mixtures in the litter, where they are
likely 10 absorb filth from the DROP
pings. On the other hand, it is bad
plan to feed the scratch grains on a
clean surface, once the chicks have
learned how to hunt for them, because
they are likely to gorge themselves,
which defeats the idea of the scratch
grains. Such grains should be scat
tered in the litter, where the chicks
are obliged to dig and work for them.
Unless the chicks are given outdoor
xx,hO -
an abundance of tender green's, they
must be given green food in some
other form, such as lettuce, sprouted
oats, sliced onions and tops of ground
vegetables, such as mangles Or tur-
nips Never undertake to rear chicks
without green food of some sort. To
do so is to invite all sorts of troubles
Green Food Is Most Important
A plot of clover, alfalfa, rape, rye
or some other plant life is big as
set, even if the chicks cannot be
turned into this. The greenstuff can
be cut at frequent intervals and fed
in a finely chopped-up state. This
portion of the diet supplies the brood
with roughage for crop development,
mineral elements to aid the diges-
ton of concentrated foods, such
as grain, and furnishes certain tonic
properties which sustain the appetite
In short, if chicks are given unlimited
freedom on a grassy range they are
almost certain to thrive, even when
the rest of the feeding system is seri-
ously defective.
Finely broken grit and oyster shells
should be kept before the chicks at
all times after they are week old.
AS previously mentioned, the early
feelings of soft food should be sprink
led with the grit; sharp sand will
answer the purpose.
If charcoal is not included in the
mash, it is well to keep this before
the chicks along with the grit and
shells, also box of graduated bone
or bone meal. The charcoal acts as
an absorbent and aids digestion; it
serves to keep the crop sweet.