REARING CHICKENS. 357 



worth a pound of cure." When the chicks are thirty to thirty- 

 six hours old remove them with the mother to a small coop 

 that has been previously constructed, rain-proof on top, back 

 and sides, with vertical slats 2y 2 inches apart in front. This 

 may be conveniently made of a dry goods box two feet square 

 and two feet deep, or it may be built on a more elaborate 

 plan if time can be spared and tools and materials are at 

 hand. Place the coop out on a grassy sod and place around 

 it an enclosure about as large as a wagon box, 8 to 10 inches 

 high. After a week this may be removed and the chicks al- 

 lowed free range within call of the mother hen, which is kept 

 in confinement. 



When placed in their new, clean quarters give them their 

 first meal prepared as follows: Take about equal parts of 

 onions, hard boiled eggs and dry bread. Chop everything fine, 

 including the shells of the eggs. Do not moisten with any- 

 thing. Feed this ration dry for two or three days, when oat- 

 meal may be substituted for the bread and some meat scraps 

 or boiled liver in the place of the onions and eggs. Give them 

 tepid water to drink. Cold water is apt to cause digestive 

 troubles which, if once provoked, are likely to cause serious 

 losses. If little chicks are confined, grit should be mixed in 

 their food. Sand and gravel should be always at their com- 

 mand. At ten days to two weeks old they should have scat- 

 tered in their litter a mixture composed of five parts cracked 

 wheat, three parts finely cracked corn, two parts millet. This 

 will keep them scratching and will afford them exercise, which 

 is all-important to the growth and development of healthy 

 chicks. Twice a day, now, they should receive a mash com- 

 posed of one part cornmeal, one part oatmeal and one part 

 bran mixed with sour milk. When fed the milk should be 

 squeezed from it and the mixture crumbled to them from the 

 hand. Succulent food must be supplied and may be furnished 

 by giving them lettuce, turnip, mangel, carrot or potato 

 sprouts; sometimes grain sprouts are fed. The chicken's ra- 

 tion should consist of about one-third grain, one-third vege- 

 table and one-third animal food. If the chicks are confined 

 and cannot range about in search of bugs and worms, you 

 must furnish a supply of animal food in the ration. Feed them 

 meat scraps, fresh boiled liver or you may add animal or 

 blood meal to the grain about 1 to 16. We must keep in mind 

 that for the first few days and weeks in the chick's life there 

 is a great drain on the system in order to provide material 



