24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ular maturity and lack of uniformity. There are two factors, 

 aside from their inherited characteristics, which affect proper 

 maturity. These are environmental conditions and food supply. 

 Environment plays an important part, as the best bred 

 chicks, possessing all other desirable characteristics, if not 

 given ideal conditions in which to grow will not exercise or 

 develop to the fullest extent. These conditions are as follows: — 



1. One should not attempt to grow young stock on restricted 

 range. 



2. Shade should be provided in abundance. 



3. An abundance of green succulent food material is very 

 necessary. 



4. The type and size of the house in which the chicks are 

 placed bears a close relation to their growth. Fresh air is the 

 limiting factor. 



The method of feeding the growing stock is not complicated. 

 The practice should consist of having the food before them all 

 the time, so that they can balance their own ration. They will 

 usually take sufficient exercise if given plenty of range; hence 

 the common practice is to feed a well-balanced dry mash in 

 large, self-feeding hoppers, and supplement this mash with a 

 good cracked grain ration. A complete dry mash should be 

 used, it being always before them. In addition to this, a 

 ration consisting of equal parts of cracked corn and whole 

 wheat should be fed twice a day about the range. 



This method of feeding will allow the chicks to balance 

 their own rations, and will give the weaker ones a constant 

 supply to which they can have access when they are crowded 

 away at the grain-feeding time by the larger ones. Dry mash 

 in self-feeding hoppers will tend to equalize growth and produce 

 a more uniform jBock at maturity, while the feeding of cracked 

 grains entirely will tend to exaggerate and constantly increase 

 any difference in size which may exist. Large self-feeding 

 hoppers, holding from 200 to 300 pounds of mash, can be con- 

 structed and placed at frequent intervals around the range. 

 This will facilitate the feeding and make the mash available 

 at all times and to all chicks. 



