The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-04-16
Big Progress in
Chick Care and
Feeding Since 1900
Weight at Six Weeks In
creasd 1907; Livabil-
ity Almost Doubled.

pnranl discoveries been made.
Before 1890 chicks Matched OUT into
world where bugs worms. weed
seeds. corn bread rolled oats. table
scraps and clahber were THE chief
starting feeds. Only the strongest had
II chance to live They were Matched
and bronded under hens. More than
half died before they were six weeks
old and those that did live seldom
weighed more than a pound at six
weeks.
In 1900. commercial scratch feeds
for chicks were first placed on the
market Chicks fed these feeds showed
an Improvement over those on the
''bugdet." In 1904. a leading feed
manufacturer brought out laying
mash for hens. which many poultry
men used as a starting feed. Although
not intended for them chicks came
through the six weeks starting period
far more satisfactorily on his feed.
Sixty-tive per cent of them lived with
an average growth of three-quarters
Of a pound ut six weeks.
Alfalfa Meal Added
The addition of alfalfa meal to the
laying mash fed baby chicks was one
of the important Innovations Of 1918.
The same feed manufacturer who had
brought out the first laying mash pio-
neered alfalfa meal, vegetative
source of minerals. vitamins and pro-
teinS.
Research workers now turned their
attention to the problem of preventing
ricketts, in young chicks. This leg
weakness which sent many chicks to
an early grave. could be prevented it
was found. if enough vitamin d was
included in the starting ration. Good
grades Of cod liver oil provided this
necessary vitamin. In 1929. cod liver
oil became one of the standard ingre.
dents in chick feed The addition Of
cod liver oil greatly simplified brood
ing since an abundance of vitamin D
in the starting feed eliminated the
necessity of keeping chicks in the sun.
shine to absorb vitamin D from the
suns rays.
300 LIABILITY With Startena
A red-letter year in chick history
NhiiIC III i'-E HuCh SlICNIdl
mash feed made to fit the nutritional
needs of baby chicks, was put on the
market. Although somewhat made
quate judged by the standards of 1897,
startena was a decided improvement
over any feed up to that time. By
feeding startena, chick raisers found
that Inability could be stepped up to
80 per cent, and the weight at six
weeks increased to seven-eights of a
pOund-almost double what chicks had
weighed previous to 1900
But there were still other valuable
discoveries to be made. In 1928. soy
bean meal, rich source of protein,
was added to checkerboard startena,
and chicks did even better than before.
The year 1880 saw the appearance
of all-mash startena, complete, all.
tn-one starting feed that solved the
problem of what to feed baby chicks.
Almost every nutritional need of the
chick was met in this new alI-mash
starter. Only ten per cent died, and at
six weeks birds averaged one pound
Disease Cut Down
Since 1890, progress has been even
more rapid. Feeding. breeding, and
management have been tremendously
stepped up. improved incubation has
resulted in stronger chicks Improved
broDders have greatly helped INABILITY.
chicks today have every opportunity
to live. compared to the chicks of
thirty years ago who chilled in drafty
houses or followed their mothers
around in damp grass Efficient sani
tation agents have been very helpful
in keeping surroundings md drinking
and feeding tr0ughs clean. Disease
and infection have been cut down.
Since 1881 all minerals that go into
Staltena have been carefully balanced
so thai chicks get exactly the right
amounts for best development oro.
TENS were synchronized In 1892. and
the texture improved. Since 1894 in.
gradients going into checkerbOard
startena have been biologically tested
for growth. The net results of bal
Hnced minerals. synchrnniZed proteins,
balanced texture and bin-testing of
ingredients was ~ per cent Inability,
bigger bones and better feathering
and an average weight of one and one
eighth pounds at six weeks.
Puratene, Pro-Vitamin A, Added
What feast grandmother's chicks
would have on tOday's Startenai In
1895 one of the most sensational and
important announcements in animal
nutrition was made by Purina research
workers. A rich pro-vitamin A con.
centrate called puratene. which It was
found. could he profitabIy utilized as
an ingredient in poultry mashes. was
announced to the poultry world The
addition of puratene was found to
produce smooth plumage and health
Ter phlets. Chicks fed on mashes for
titled with puratene are guaranteed
all the vltamin A they need for bodily
requirements. As result. INABILITY
OF the present has been stepped up to
95 per cent and the weight at six
weeks to a pound and one-quarter. The
addition of puratene (vitamin AZ to
chick feed means better and faster
growth