MANY METHODS OF FEEDING 361 



12. Succulent material is just as essential in the baby-chick 

 ration as it is in that of the laying hen. It can best be supplied 

 in the form of sprouted oats, lettuce, or ground vegetables, such 

 as mangels, beets, and turnips. 



13. Feed Early and Late. — It is just as necessary to feed 

 extremely early and rather late as it is to feed little and often. 

 The time between the feeding at night and the first feeding in 

 the morning is at best rather long, and it can be materially short- 

 ened by feeding early and late. 



14. Induce Exercise. — In order to keep the chicks in good 

 physical condition and growing, give them plenty of exercise. 

 This can best be done by covering a considerable area of the 

 brooder floor with a thin layer of chaff or fine litter, and after the 

 first day or two feed the ground grain in this material. 



15. Clean Feeding. — Health is the one great essential, and 

 in order to promote this the feed must be clean. This point is 

 important when feeding wet mashes. The mash should not be 

 allowed to remain from one period to another, since it will become 

 sour. Nothing will upset the digestive system of the chick more 

 quickly than sour feed. The litter and sand in the feeding com- 

 partment should be kept as free as possible from droppings, and 

 should be changed frequently. 



Many methods of feeding are in use, some of which bring 

 uniformly good results and are especially recommended. Two 

 methods or plans are here outlined. It must be remembered 

 that there is no such thing as a best ration to suit all conditions. 



The first eighteen hours in brooder, — grit, shell, and water, 

 with short-cut alfalfa on the floor of the brooder. 



The day following, — pinhead oatmeal, three feedings. 



The next five days, — feed the following cracked-grain ration 

 on the brooder floor five times daily, giving only what they will 

 clean up between feedings: 



Cracked corn 20 lbs. Granulated milk (fine) 10 lbs. 



Fine cracked wheat 25 lbs. Crushed peas 3 lbs. 



Pinhead oatmeal 5 lbs. Fine charcoal 3 lbs. 



Supplemental to this ration, — hard-boiled eggs once a day, 

 sprouted oat tops twice daily in small amounts. 



The seventh day, — start feeding wheat bran in small hoppers, 

 letting it stand before the chicks two hours, and omit the noon 

 grain feeding. 



