1948 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



probably obtained it from the soil. Most grain foods contain less than 

 I per cent of ash, while meat scrap and meat meals have from 4 to 5 per 

 cent; animal meal has from 30 to 40 per cent of ash, and bone meal and 

 granulated bone contain from 60 to 70 per cent. That additional mineral 

 matter is needed by fowls was proved by experiments at the Cornell Uni- 

 versity Agricultural Experiment Station, where it was shown that the 

 bones of fowls that were kept from the ground and deprived of additional 

 lime in the form of oyster shells, bone meal, and similar substances, had 

 much lower breaking strength than had those of other fowls kept under 

 similar conditions but supplied with oyster shells. Oyster shells do 

 not seem to be desirable for young chickens, but the mineral matter 

 needed may be supplied easily and cheaply in the form of bone meal 

 or of fine granulated bone. The bone meal seems better for the younger 

 chicks, and it may be given with the dry mash or with the moist foods. 

 If granulated bone is used, care should be taken that it contains no fine, 

 sharp splinters, as these might injure the digestive tract of the chicks. 



Grit seems necessary for the health of the chicks, and from the first 

 meal this should be supplied in the food in such a manner that the chicks 

 must find it. They will soon learn to look for it. 



P'ine granulated charcoal should be included in the food because of its 

 good effect on the health of the chicks. It seems to be a preventive 

 of some digestive troubles. The chicks eat this material with great 

 relish, and they may be given as much of it as they desire. 



Palatability of Jood. — If chicks are forced to eat food that is distasteful 

 to them, they will eat 'as little as possible. vSuch feeding soon results 

 in slow growth and high mortality, especially if the stock is very young; 

 an unpalatable ration is therefore an expensive one, even though the first 

 cost may be small. A single food material that the chicks do not relish 

 may spoil the effect of an entire ration, particularly if the material is in 

 a ground food mixture. Food that the chicks like is looked for eagerly 

 and eaten with a relish, an active scramble often being an accompaniment 

 of the meal. If a sufficient quantity is given so that the smaller chickens 

 are not robbed of their share, all are benefited by the exercise. Eager 

 anticipation is said to promote the flow of the digestive juices, thus aiding 

 in the digestion of food. 



Variety. — Variety in a ration is essential for the following reasons : 

 (i) It renders the food mo"^ palatable; (2) it is likely to result in a better 

 supply of the materials necessary for growth and for bodily maintenance; 

 (3) there is less danger of injury from overfeeding or from underfeeding 

 the chicks. If chicks are given only one or two kinds of food, they 

 are likely to become repelled by its sameness. No one nor two foods 

 will supply all the materials needed, 



