1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 249 



upon the selection of birds bred for market purposes, and 

 mated to produce their superiors. The great cry is for 

 early maturity. Broilers at ten to twelve weeks, roasters at 

 fourteen to sixteen, — here is the line of profit, and to crowd 

 the most growth into the shortest possible time is the secret 

 of successful poultry growing. The highest price goes to 

 him who in twelve weeks brings forward the plumpest body, 

 best proportioned, and with the largest per cent of flesh, 

 most attractive in color. Breeding only from those excelling 

 in these qualities, and feeding for this one end, the story is 

 soon told to the satisfaction of the breeder. The food for 

 making bone, muscle and flesh in the chick, is very much the 

 same as that for producing eggs in the adult fowl. Begin at 

 the first to feed strengthening food, tissue food, leaving the 

 fats to be supplied later. Milk here enters in as one of the 

 most valuable products ; and by milk I mean that which has 

 had the fats removed for churning, for this is far better than 

 the whole product. Testing the eggs after being under the 

 hens, or in the incubators, seven to ten days, and removing 

 those not fertilized, we have the very best food for little 

 chicks. Not only is valuable time saved by removing the 

 infertile eggs, but by cooking these thoroughly, and mixing 

 with bread or cracker crumbs soaked in milk, an excellent 

 food is provided at slight expense. The crop of a chicken 

 is a little thing, and should not receive more than half a 

 tea-spoonful at a time. A slight excess will destroy life or 

 retard growth, and for the most rapid work there can be no 

 faltering for an instant. After the third day, green food 

 should be given. If the flocks have access to fresh grass, this 

 will be unnecessary ; but it does not do to wait for the buds 

 of spring before starting the broods. They should begin to 

 appear next month, — January, — and be on the market 

 before spring fairly opens. Sow rape or oats in boxes, and 

 cut when two or three inches high, chopping fine, and feeding 

 dail3^ For animal food, I have found meal worms extremely 

 valuable, yet inexpensive. These I have grown in flannel or 

 lint, kept in a warm place, sprinkled with meal, and w^et with 

 sweetened water. Later it has been my custom to use the 

 wastes from the butcher shops, exposing until tainted, then 

 sprinkling with meal and covering with moist, warm earth. 



