• Feeding Young Chickens 1959 



7. Test all beef scrap before feeding 



8. Keep chickens active by allowing them to become hungry once daily 



9. Feed moist mash sparingly 



10. Keep dry mash always before the chicks 



So far as results of experimental work at the Cornell Station are now 

 available, it seems probable that the proportion of beef scrap in these 

 mixtures might be somewhat increased with benefit to the chicks, pro- 

 vided the scrap used were good and wholesome. 



If it is desired that the chickens shall develop slowly, the moist food 

 may be gradually discontinued after the third week. 



These mixtures may be continued for the growing stock, being fed 

 from hoppers, and clear beef scrap may be added to the ration if desired. 



Adaptation of the ration to conditions. — The above method of feeding 

 has been proved good for large nimibers of chicks reared in brooders; 

 it may be adapted to the farmer's flock so that materials that would 

 otherwise be wasted may be given to the chicks. A little cooked break- 

 fast food left from the morning meal may be combined with bread crtmibs, 

 a few bits of finely chopped lean meat, or a little hard-boiled egg, and, if 

 bone meal is not at hand, some of the powder from a well-burned bone. 

 Bread slightly moistened with milk may be used without the breakfast 

 food. If finely cracked com and pinhead oats are not available, wheat 

 screenings usually are, and chicks three or four days old will swallow 

 the smaller kernels. Buckwheat, barley, and rye should not be fed to 

 the chicks. 



Table scraps will largely take the place of beef scrap for chicks on 

 a free range, especially if the chicks are reared by hens. If the farmer 

 has animal meal for his stock, it may be used instead of beef scrap in a 

 moist mash, with the table scraps. This will furnish mineral matter if 

 bone meal cannot be obtained. Burned bones will provide bone ash 

 when nothing else is handy. 



Good, bright alfalfa or clover chaff (leaves), sifted to remove the dust, 

 is excellent for chicks. It may be scalded and allowed to stand for a 

 few hours, and then given in addition to the green food, or a small amoimt 

 added to the ground food, after the chicks are a week old. 



When chicks are reared by the natural method, the mother hen teaches 

 them what to eat and when to eat it, and their owner has far less trouble 

 about their diet. If possible, hen and chicks should be allowed free 

 range. Plenty of food should be furnished for both and whole corn should 

 be included for the hen. Oats in the hull are not good for chicks because 

 of the undesirable shuck. 



A useful feeding coop. — In case chickens of all ages must run together, 

 a feeding coop is desirable. The foundation of the coop is a strong frame 

 three feet by four feet, and two feet high. On the sides of this frame 



