Rural School Leaflet 



"35 



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 

 Troughs for feeding large chickens ^^ grain and large g ^ 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. 

 During the first few days they will probably eat but a small amount of grain, 

 and it may be scattered in a shallow dish containing a little dry mash 

 made according to the directions given above. After two or three days, 

 the dry mash by itself may be fed in the dish, and the grain scattered 

 on the ground or floor. Two other 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 6ats, and 

 larger cracked corn. Then if 

 they have a large range and 

 the weather is favorable so 

 that they may run about, 

 they need only two meals of 

 grain and one of moist mash 

 a day. They can always 

 come back to the dry mash 

 if they get hungry. Beginning 

 with the first meal, green food 

 should be supplied, but the 

 hen will soon teach the 

 chickens to peck tender pieces 

 of clover and the like if she 

 is allowed to range with the 

 brood. 



When the chickens are about eight weeks old the grain and ground food 

 may be fed from a large feed hopper, from which the chickens may help 



An outdoor hopper for feeding mash, grain, grit, 

 and bone meal 



