Feeding Young Chickens 



1955 



style of hopper is illustrated in figure 141. These should be placed in 

 the pens at the end of the first week and should be fastened securely so that 

 they cannot tip over, being so placed that it will Ijc impossible for 

 the chicks to crowd behind them. 



The trays used for dry ground food are shown 

 in figure 142. These trays are made of smoothly 

 planed wood, and are thirty inches long, four 

 inches wide, and of three different heights: two 

 inches for the youngest chickens, three inches for 

 the next size, and four inches for those still larger. 

 A piece of wire screening of one-half inch mesh is 

 loosely fitted into the tray, being placed over the 

 food in order to prevent waste. 



When the chicks are from six to eight weeks old, 

 a covered feed trough may be used as shown in 

 figure 143. This trough is made of planed wood, 

 and has a raised cover attached to two upright 

 pieces that slide loosely into guide irons at each 

 end of the trough. It is sometimes necessary 

 to fasten projecting strips of wood along the 

 top edge of the trough, running upright wires 



between these and the 



Fig. 141. — Grit hopper. 

 This hopper is used in 

 feeding the mixture of 

 grit, granulated bone, 

 and charcoal to chicks 

 more than one week old 



raised 

 cover at intervals of three 

 inches, in order to prevent 

 wasting the food. 



Culling. — Chicks of different 

 sizes should not be fed together, 

 as the smaller ones may be 

 robbed of their rightful share 

 of the food. Healthy chicks of 

 the same age and breed and 

 similarly fed are usually much 

 alike in size and in activity. 

 If the flocks show uneven 

 growth, the smaller chicks 



Fig. i42.-Trays used in feeding baby chicks. A should be separated from the 

 loose piece of wire screening, slightly smaller larger ones. 



Chicks of the 



than the top of the tray, is placed over the food . __^ +^„^fUr^.,. 



to prevent waste. The mesh of the screening same Size may run together, 



should be of half-inch size unless those that are older are 



very small for their age; in such a case the lack of development should 

 be regarded as a sign of disease. 



Diseased and healthy chicks should not be allowed to run together. 



