l8o LEG-WEAKNESS 



which are deprived of getting plenty of insects must 

 be given animal matter. Raw meat, ground up, fed 

 a few times every week is very beneficial to them. 

 Beef scraps, of good quality, free from a musty 

 smell, and containing a good percentage of granu- 

 lated bone should be fed to the chicks in a hopper 

 provided for that purpose. I would not advise mix- 

 ing the beef scraps in the ground food as it has a 

 tendency to make it mouldy, the best method is to 

 feed it in a hopper by itself. Granulated bone may 

 also be purchased separately from the beef scraps, 

 and that can be mixed with the grit and charcoal. 

 Skimmed milk is also very good for chicks, and 

 helps to build them up. Wet mashes should be 

 avoided. 



Chicks kept on board floors too long, and not 

 given soil to run on are liable to become afflicted 

 with leg-weakness. When chicks reach the age of 

 three weeks they should be given access to an out- 

 door run, they need lots of fresh air and fresh 

 earth to scratch in. During the early spring when 

 weather conditions are such that this is impossible, 

 it is advisable to either spread a layer of soil on the 

 board floor, or provide a large shallow box filled 

 with soil. 



The observant poultry raiser will usually notice 

 the first symptoms of leg-weakness, the chick will 

 show signs of unsteadiness in walking, and its leg 

 muscles will appear working at a disadvantage. 



