50 FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 



be considered here. Readers using such foods, and desiring to continue their use rather 

 than any of the methods here described, may ask such questions as they wish about them, 

 and these will be answered ; but to consider the multitudes of "fussy" methods at length 

 Is out of the question. 



Ration I. Mash and Grain Feeds Alternated. 



I speak of the mash and grain as "alternated" for want of a word which in a word will 

 convey the idea. They are not regularly alternated all the time, but as far as convenient 

 and advisable the soft and hard feeds alternate. 



Morning. First Feed. Mash as recommended for hens in Ration I., Lesson I. 

 Middle of Morning. Millet or a "chick feed" mixture. 

 Noon. Wheat. 

 Middle of Afternoon. Mash. 

 Evening. Cracked corn. 



[f the chicks have grass run they get their own green food ; if confined where they have 

 no grass green food must be provided. As will be noticed, the only thing this ration calls 

 for in addition to what is provided for the old fowls is the chick feed mixture. Such a 

 mixture I would recommend generally in preference to ordinary millet because it gives 

 greater variety, and is on the whole, more economical. Indeed often the cost per 100 Ibs. 

 is no greater. 



Ration II. Baked Cake and Grain Feeds Alternated. 



In this ration we simply substitute a baked " johnnycake" for the mash in Ration I. 

 This cake may be made entirely of corn meal or of a mixture of corn meal with other 

 ground stuffs. This ration is to be preferred to Ration I. where only a few chicks 

 are to be fed, as a large cake may be baked which will last several days, giving the soft 

 food always ready, and making it unnecessary to mix a mash daily or oftener. When so 

 many chicks are kept that the baking of cake for them becomes burdensome, the mash is 

 preferable. 



Ration HI. Mash. Baked Cake and Grains Alternated. 



This ration may be used if it is preferred not to have mash about after the morning 

 feed, or if it is more convenient to mix only enough mash for that feed. 



A Few Recipes for Johnnycake. 



Add a little soda to sour milk; stir in corn meal or corn chop, to make a stiff batter the 

 stiffer the better. A few infertile eggs added improve the cake. Bake until well cooked 

 through. Make cake thick to reduce proportion of crust. 



Take one pint corn meal, one teacup bran, one teaspoonful meat meal, one raw egg, one tea- 

 spoon soda, one teacup cold water; bake two hours. 



Take three quarts corn meal, one quart wheat middlings, one cup meat meal; mix with 

 water or skimmed milk to which has been added four tablespoons vingegar, two teaspoons 

 soda. 



Ration IV. All Dry Grain. 



For this ration bought prepared mixtures are generally used. 



Ration V. Dry Mash and Dry Grain. 



For this again 1 would recommend those who use it to buy the prepared mixtures, 

 because the chick dry mash is ground more finely than they can get it for themselves, 

 and the mixture of grain contains a greater variety than they would give, and when they 

 leave out mashes and johnnycakes with the variety which is secured in the use of these, 

 and in their alternation with grain, they need greater variety in the grain. 

 There are scores of very good mixtures for chicks on the market, and many of them at very 

 reasonable prices. 



