Rural School Leaflet 



849 



of three pounds cracked wheat, two pounds corn (finely cracked), and 

 one pound pinhead oatmeal, rolled oats, or hulled oats is good. A dry 

 mash may be left before the chickens at all times, but only as much 



should be given at one time as will be 

 eaten in a day. If any of the mash 

 becomes dirty it should be taken away 

 from the chickens. The mash may con- 

 sist of four pounds wheat bran, three 

 Troughs for feeding large chickens pounds wheat middlings, three pounds 

 corn meal, three pounds sifted beef scrap, and one half pound bone meal, 

 well mixed together. Beef scrap that is not perfectly good and fresh 

 should never be used. 



For chickens four weeks old or over, the bran may be reduced to three 

 pounds. Cottage cheese may be given in addition to the other foods, but 

 not in large quantities. It may cause bowel trouble if the chickens get 

 too much at first. All foods should be sweet and clean, never moldy nor sour. 

 Make all changes in ration gradually. 



The feeding. — Care should be taken to have the hen well supplied with 

 whole grain and large grit. The chickens should be fed often at first, 

 usually five times a day. The moist food may be given in a shallow dish 

 or on a bit of clean board, and should be taken away as soon as all the 

 chickens have had enough. The first few days, they will probably eat 

 but a small amount of grain, and it may be scattered in a shallow dish con- 

 taining a little dry mash made 

 according to the directions given 

 above. After two or three days, 

 the dry m-ash by itself may be fed 

 in the dish, and the grain scat- 

 tered on the ground or floor. 

 Two othei; meals of the moist 

 food may then be given, the 

 other feedings being of grain. 

 The dry mash may be left where 

 the chickens can get it at any 

 time. After the first week, the 

 bread and rolled oats need not 

 be given, but a little of the mash 

 mixture may be moistened and 

 given instead. 



As the chickens grow older the number of meals may be less, and the 

 grain of larger size. At four or five weeks of age they will be able to eat 

 whole wheat, hulled oats, and larger cracked corn. Then if they have a 



Chick feed-trays of different sizes 



