The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-02-16
FEEDING YOUNG CHICK.
EMS AMI. GROWING STOCK.


The fssdanx sof little chickens is of
great impTotnace. It must be remem-
bered that the chick II furnished with
food by nature until 1t il strong enough
to look about for feed. Tne unabsorb-
ed yolk at Matching time is this source
of food supply. The first feed should
ne given when 1t is 80 to As h. dis old.
The chick should not be overfed at the
beginning.
At twelve weeks Of age 1t has in
creased its weight about % times. 1t
is necessary to have feed at this time
taat will furnish the food materials
needed for growing. Z.
Method OF Feeding.
When the chicks are put in the
brooder they should be given some Of
the flaked oats and bread crumb mix
|ture in small pans. The grit can be
added to this first feed. AS chicks
are hungry. by dropping the feed into
their pans their attention Will be at
tracted. Allow them to pick away as
long as tney want to. They should be
taught to drink at this time-give milk
| If possible; il not give water. 'or the
first two weeks chicks slould be fed
five times q day; early morning, about
10 o'clock, noon, p. m, and to 5
ip. m. 1t is a good plan not to let them
have as much as they want except at
the night feed.
From the start they should be CIV
en- two feeds Of the scratch feed and
three of the flaked oats and bread
each day: the latter can be moistened
slightly with milk for the evening
feed.
At the end of the first week gradu-
ally begin to use the dry mash By the
time they are 4 weeks old they should
be getting grain three times day and
mash twice. II the weather is right
and they nave plenty of range there is
no danger OF their eating too much
The green food should be started al
the end OF the first week. Whatever
is used should be cut up fine and pu,
in the feed pans or shallow troughs
Beets or turnips that have been cook
ed can be mixed with the dry masf
with beneficial results. After the
lchicks are able to recognize the fee(
lit can be fed in the litter and 1t will
give them exercise working for it
When they get to be four or five weeks
old they tire Of the small grain ant
will do better If changed over to {
larger size of scratch food.
When the birds are about weeks
old they can be put into colony houses
without heat. This will depend upor
|tne season and the breed of birds kept
1t does not pay to take the heat away
from chicks too soon. When they are
old enough to do without heat the.
should be given free range conditions
A cornfield or an orchard is a splen
did place for them, as shade is neces
sary for good growth and the bird
lpick up many bugs and worms.
When the grain Is harvested 1t Is
|good idea to move colony of birds t,
the field. They will gather the grail
that will otherwise be lost. Rang
birds should be hopper fed. Thi
will insure the best growth and lesser
labor.
! 81 Grain and Ground Feed.
4 Cracked grains and ground fee
should be used. The ground feed
are much easier digested and insure
the most rapid growth, as grain re
quires a longer time to digest. If
chicken has to depend on cracke
grain 1t will not make the growth
should.
/ Mineral Foods. (Ash.)
Grains are lacking in ash. I'll
chick must have mineral food for bod
building Of the bones, muscles. an
Feathers. The best source of thi
food Is bone meal. 1t is easily digest
ed and is the cheapest source of ash
A lack Of ash In the feed is one of tn
causes of leg weakness. Grit Is neces
sary for young chickens. 1t should b
, igiven them as first feed.
Green Feed.
. Some form Of green food is nece'
, lsary for growing chicks. This ful
> lnishes variety to the ration and ha
, la beneficial effect on the chicks d
. lgestion. When the green fod is tendt
e there is very little crude fiber in
: Later in the season when Chicks ca
e be on a grass plot they will look aft'
their own green.
Early in the season Mangel Wur
s lzels are a source of green food. Aft
0 the chicks are week old they net
e Some every day. Chicks not out
d the ground and without green fo'
: soon get out of condition. A piece
4 sod In the brooder house does mu'
d Ito make them contented. This Is espe
$ tally important in wet weather. LIZ
If tuce and swiss card make excelle
e feed for little chicks.
70 CONTINUED in Poultry Notes No.
n Issued by the State Agricultural f
detrimental Station)