Farm Poultry 231 



feed should be specially prepared and offered five to 

 seven times during the day. No feed is needed for the 

 first day or two. The first food should be such as may 

 be digested without grit, such as ground grain or stale 

 bread just well moistened in skim-milk. It makes little 

 difference whether the milk is fresh or sour. They 

 should be given no more feed than they will clean up 



Fig. 158. The Plymouth Rocks are often used for 

 mothers for Leghorns. 



promptly. The feed supplies to young chickens, and older 

 ones as well, should contain ground bone or other form 

 of mineral matter. It is not so important that they have 

 animal food, as plenty of mineral matter and protein. 

 The latter may be of either vegetable or animal origin. 

 Investigations for the cause of death among young 

 poultry showed that 15 per cent had tuberculosis, due 

 no doubt to imperfect sanitation; 38 per cent had in- 

 testinal troubles, and 75 per cent had diseased livers, 



