POULTRY RAISING CHICKENS 305 



cracked wheat, two pounds "Pinhead" (granulated) oatmeal or cracked hulled 

 oats, and one pound pulverized beef scrap. 



9. Cracked Corn, Oatmeal and Millet Seed. Another mixture is : Steel 

 cut oatmeal, fine cracked corn and millet seeds. 



Frequency of Feeding. Feed young chicks a very little at a time. They 

 should be fed at least five times a day, once early In the morning, then just 

 before they are put away for the night and three times in the intervening 

 period. It is well the first two weeks to feed three meals of soft feed and two 

 of hard, and after two weeks to feed two of soft and three of hard. Do not 

 give any more moistened soft feed each time than the chicks will clean up. 

 The feed must be kept sweet and clean as sour feed causes looseness of the 

 bowels and dysentery. The chicks will grow faster at first if a part of the feed 

 is ground than if just cracked grains are fed. The frequency of feeding may 

 be decreased to three times a day after the chicks are six weeks old. 



Animal Feed. If the chicks are in the open on free range in the spring 

 and summer they pick up bugs and insects which will help supply their animal 

 feed. If they cannot get these abundantly, it must be furnished in some other 

 form. The hard-boiled eggs will be sufficient when fed to the youngest chicks 

 but later on they should be given green cut bone and beef scraps. 



Water. Cool, fresh water should always be kept before the chicks. See 

 that the water basin is clean. This will save one much trouble later. If the 

 chicks are allowed to get very thirsty and then fill up on water it may give 

 them bowel trouble. 



Milk. Milk is fine for young chicks ; it is highly nutritious and promotes 

 growth, taking the place of other animal food to a certain extent. Skim milk 

 is excellent; if whole milk is fed it is better to dilute it with one-third or 

 one-half water. 



Grit. Grit is a necessity. A dish of it in the form of fine sand and grit 

 should always be before the chicks. 



Charcoal. Charcoal is not a necessity but it is a fine thing to keep them 

 in good health. It is also well to give charcoal, if the chicks are not thrifty, 

 before changing the feed or giving medicine. Most people keep charcoal 

 before the chicks at all times. 



Exercise. The chicks should be induced to exercise from the very first. 

 Their grain feed should be fed in the litter to make them scratch for it. If 

 their green feed is a cabbage or other vegetable, hang it up. This will make 

 them jump. Exercise promotes growth and health. 



Teach Chicks to Roost. Chicks can be taught to roost by putting the 

 perches near the floor and placing with them two old hens or older chicks 1 that 

 are used to roosting. If this is not effective or convenient, place the chicks 

 on the perches after dark for a few nights and they will learn to go there of 

 their own accord. It is often advisable to teach the chicks to roost when eight 

 to twelve weeks of age, as they get dirty and crowd themselves on the floor. 

 If wide roosts three to four inches are used there is little danger from 

 crooked breasts. 



