LESSON FOR THE FARM 



Published semi-monthly throughout the year by the New York State College of 

 Agriculture at Cornell University. Entered as second-class matter October 13, 

 191 1, at the post office at Ithaca, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of July 16, 1894 



L. H. Bailey, Director 

 Course for the Farm, Charles H. Tuck, Supervisor 



VOL. X. No. xo FEBRUARY ^5.^1912 ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^°- ' 



FEEDING YOUNG CHICKENS 



Clara Nixon 



The important objects to be accomplished in the feeding of young 

 chickens are: (i) To bring to maturity or to marketable size and age as 

 large a proportion of the hatch of chicks as possible; (2) to enable the 

 chicks to develop large, strong, well-proportioned frames and good 

 plumage for their variety; (3) to provide for as rapid a growth as is attain- 

 able, at as low a cost as is consistent with other requirements. In the 

 fulfillment of these purposes the following factors must be considered: 

 (i) The eggs must be incubated properly; (2) the chicks must not be 

 left too long in the incubator after the completion of the hatch. They 

 should be removed to a nursery, or brooder, when they are thirty-six 

 hours old; (3) the chicks must be strong and vigorous when taken from 

 the incubator; (4) they must be properly cared for and skillfully fed. 



ESSENTIALS IN FEEDING 



Cleanliness. — All the pens, the food and water dishes, and everything 

 used about the chicks should be carefully cleaned and disinfected at 

 frequent periods. This care should begin before the chicks are put 

 in the brooders and should continue throughout the entire time of brood- 

 ing. As soon as the litter becomes damp or soiled it should be removed 

 and the pens should be thoroughly swept and disinfected before the litter 



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