250 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



get themselves wet. Dry feed should be given them for 

 some time, some poultry men even feeding only dry feed 

 at all times. Chick food, a mixture of cracked grain, 

 corn, oatmeal, and small seeds', can be had at all supply 

 stores and is safe to use, but expensive; or a mixture of 

 fine cracked corn, oatmeal, wheat shorts, etc., may be 

 fed. Where but few chicks are kept bread crumbs will 

 answer very well for the first few days. Fresh and clean 

 water should be before them at all times, as well as fine 

 sharp sand or grit, and milk will supply the animal food 

 needed. 



There is much variation in the practice of different 

 poultry men as to feed, some giving each day a mash of 

 soft food made of a mixture of ground grains, potatoes, 

 scraps, and other materials, while others feed only dry 

 feed. The latter practice seems to be growing; it is a 

 safe one to follow, and reduces the labor in caring for 

 the flock to the minimum. Young chicks should be fed 

 what they will eat up clean three or four times each 

 day until they can run about vigorously, when three 

 times and finally twice a day, will be sufficient. Care 

 must be taken that they have warm and clean quarters, 

 especially at night. If allowed to huddle together, as 

 they- are inclined to do, their lodging place soon becomes 

 foul and unhealthy. Early hatched chickens, those 

 that come out in March and April, will be large enough 

 to sell as broilers in June and July, and will often sell 

 at from 30 cents to 50 cents per pound, according to the 

 supply and quality, thus giving some income from the 

 investment and reducing the cost of keeping a large 

 flock of rapidly growing fowls. After the season for 

 broilers at good prices is past, it is the best practice to 

 separate the cockerels from the pullets and fatten them 

 as quickly as possible for poultry, though, when care- 



