58 



HOW TO FEED POULTRY FOR ANY PURPOSE WITH PROFIT 



novice to regulate the amount given by the appetites of 

 the chicks. This seems to the novice quite unsatisfactory. 

 He would like definite statements of quantities to feed a 

 given number of chicks. It should be definitely understood 

 that chicks cannot be fed by the scales; but, understanding 

 that, knowledge of what a particular lot of chicks re- 

 quired*, or of average requirements of a given number of 

 chicks will enable a beginner to judge whether his chicks 

 are eating about a normal ration. The Washington Ex- 

 periment Station has worked this out for 100 average 

 chicks fed the ration numbered 18 on page 55. The fol- 

 lowing statement is an abstract from their report. 



Second Day First Feed: 



11:30 A. M. 1 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 2:30 P. M. 1 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 4:00 P. M. 1% oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 At dusk iy 2 oz. oatmeal mixture. 



Third Day: 



Daylig-ht 1 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 10:00 A. M. 1 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 12:00 Noon 1 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 2:00 P. M. l 1 /^ oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 4:00 P. M. 1% oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 Dusk 2 oz. chick feed. 



Fourth Day: 



8:00 A. M. 2 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 10:00 A. M. 2 oz. chick feed. 

 12:00 Noon 2 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 2:00 P. M. 2 oz. chick feed. 

 4:00 P. M. 2 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 Dusk 3 oz. chick feed. 

 Night 2 oz. chick feed for first feed next morning. 



Fifth Day: 



8:00 A. M. 2 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 10:00 A. M. 3 oz. chick feed. 

 12:00 Noon 3 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 2:00 P. M. 3 oz. chick feed. 

 4:00 P. M. 2 oz. oatmeal mixture. 



Dusk Observe crops of chicks and give chick feed 



if needed. 

 Night 2 oz. chick feed. 



Sixth Day: 



8:00 A. M. 3 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 10:00 A. M. 3 oz. chick feed. 

 12:00 Noon 3 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 2:00 P. M. 3 oz. chick feed. 

 4:00 P. M. 4 oz. oatmeal mixture. 



D US k 4 O z. chick feed more if needed for fair- 

 ly full crops. 

 Night 4 oz. chick feed. 



Seventh and Eighth Days: 



8:00 A. M. 3 oz. chick feed. 

 10:00 A. M. 4 oz. oatmeal mixture. 

 12:00 Noon 4-oz. mash. 

 2:00 P. M. 4 oz. chick feed. 

 4:00 P. M. 4 oz. mash. 



Dusk 5 oz. chick feed. 



Ninth Day: 



8:00 A. M. 4 oz. chick feed. 



10:00 A. M. 4 oz. chick feed. 



12:00 Noon 5 oz. mash. 



2:00 P. M. 5 oz. chick feed. 



4:00 P. M. 6 oz. chick feed. 



Night 4 oz. chick feed. 



It should be noted that in addition to these definite 

 amounts given at definite times the chicks have a bran mash 

 always accessible, hence the amount they eat is probably 

 always a little in excess of the above quantities. 



The amount of feed consumed at first is so small that 

 inexperienced feeders are apt to make the .mistake of in- 

 creasing the amount given too slowly, leaving the chicks 

 somewhat underfed. For this reason as well as to insure 

 that chicks can always have something when hungry it 

 i? good policy, no matter whether a particular ration that 

 may have been selected calls for it or not, to keep a light 

 dry mash always before the chicks. If this is consumed 

 Quickly, and the chicks seem quite hungry for it, the 

 quantity given at each regular feed should be increased 

 until the chicks will only take an occasional nibble at the 

 permanent dry mash. 



Relation of Ration to Purpose in Feeding 



Up to weaning age the same ration will serve for al 

 chicks regardless of the particular use to which they are 

 to be put. There is no perceptible advantage in making 

 adjustments of rations with a view to the special object 

 for which the chicks are grown, because the practical way 

 to handle chicks is to give all the ration suited for normal 

 development up to this age, and in the next stage separate 

 them according to quality and apparent capacity for de- 

 velopment and then apply the rations and treatment suited 

 to different purposes. This will be taken up in detail in 

 the next chapter. The period considered in this chapter, 

 from hatching to weaning, should be considered a general 

 preparatory period in which each individual chick shows 

 its capacity to respond to and profit by good feeding and 

 management. 



It is commonly said that the first three weeks are the 

 most critical period in the life of a chick, and that chicks 

 that survive after the third week can usually be raised. 

 While it is true that losses are ordinarily most numerous 

 in the first two or three weeks, it is a mistake to suppose 

 that the necessity for careful management is diminished 

 after the chicks reach that age. Relaxation of care in the 

 latter half of the brooding period probably stunts as 

 many chickens, that up to that time were normal, as are 

 lost outright in the first few weeks. Many poultry keepers 

 discontinue heat in brooders too soon, thinking it econo- 

 my to save coal even at the risk of chilling the chicks. It 

 is always wiser to have heat that the chicks can get to if 

 they feel the need of it, than to take chances of their be- 

 coming chilled. Until settled warm weather comes, chicks 

 need some heat until well covered with feathers. Failure 

 to supply it has much to do with apparent inefficiency of 

 rations. Also after the chick is eating coarse feed freely 

 it should still have more meals than old birds get. The 

 poultry keeper who wants to grow really good chicks 

 should make it a point to feed them all they will eat, and 

 to reduce the number of feedings only as the chicks be- 

 come indifferent to the extra feeds. 



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