262 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



in shallow troughs where the chicks can help them- 

 selves. In addition to this ration sweet milk is fed 

 every day when available. Green food should be 

 furnished fresh. Lettuce leaves are excellent for 

 young chicks. If allowed a grass run the lettuce is 

 not needed, but skim milk is desirable. 



Another plan is this : When the young chicks are 

 48 to 60 hours old they are fed hard-boiled eggs. 

 They should be fed frequently in very small 

 amounts. The eggs may be some of those tested out 

 from the incubator or eggs otherwise unfit for use 

 in the kitchen. Following this ration, place before 

 the chicks in shallow pans a dry mash consisting 

 of two pounds of corn meal, two pounds of shorts, 

 two pounds of bran, two pounds of beef scrap and a 

 half pound of charcoal. This ration may be fed un- 

 til the chicks are of considerable size. The ration 

 is now changed to two pounds each of millet, sifted 

 cracked corn, cracked sorghum seed and cracked 

 wheat. Of course, fresh water and clean grit should 

 be before the chicks at all times. When they are 

 large enough to eat whole grain, the cracked ma- 

 terials should be withdrawn. Chicks that are very 

 early hatched, and those that have grown rapidly till 

 midsummer should not have much beef scrap. If 

 the young chicks are hatched very early, or if they 

 mature unusually early, they may molt the first sea- 

 son. Both should be prevented, the latter by 

 cautious feeding. 



Commercial feeds for young chicks consist of 

 various mixtures containing small grain, cracked 

 corn, wheat, oats, millet, hemp, etc. They are not 



