Feeding Young Chicks 31 



buy chicks, hatch them yourself in the incubator, or have hens hatch 

 them, this method of feeding will be good enough for all. 



(Editor's Note: We realize that many readers will consider 

 the above methods of boiling and varying the feed for young chicks 

 too bothersome and time consuming. This applies particularly to 

 those who wish to conduct the poultry business on a large or com- 

 mercial scale. 



It has been proven beyond doubt that reliable manufacturers of 

 commercial chick feeds furnish Dry Mixed Infant Chick Feeds, com- 

 posed of small grain, seeds, charcoal, grit, etc., that supply all the 

 chicks' wants, and if properly fed. seldom fail to raise a very large per- 

 centage of properly hatched chicks. At times every healthy chick, 

 even in lots of four or five hundred, has been safely carried through 

 baby chickhood by the feeding of these commercial chick feeds. 



To be perfect, the chick feed must contain a small amount of grit 

 and shell, which should be thoroughly mixed through it. The ques- 

 tion of grit and shell is very important and if the chick feed you buy 

 does not contain these ingredients, be sure to secure them and mix 

 them in yourself to the amount of S per cent. 



In Bulletin 164 of the University of California, Prof. M. E. Jaffa 

 says, "The Grit and Charcoal are added to the chick feed, as the babes 

 can not at first be depended upon to visit the grit trough regularly; 

 but the trough is placed in the run to teach them to acquire the habit 

 for the future." 



This matter of grit in commercial chick feeds has recently been 

 given attention by the Federal Government. The Bureau of Chemistry 

 of the Department of Agriculture recently ruled that "A certain 

 amount of grit is considered a food and when the amount is not ex- 

 cessive, no statement in regard to the quantity of grit is demanded by 

 the Federal law.") 



Extras. — The above is the straight everyday diet but unless it is 

 varied chicks soon get tired of it. Now the first and most valuable 

 way to vary the chick's diet is to give it some succulent green feed. 

 These things should be prepared ahead of the chicks so as to have 

 them ready. Now I class nice fresh tender lettuce by itself. There 

 is nothing chicks like better, nothing that they can eat so much of 

 without being harmed. I never knew a chick that ate so much lettuce 

 that it was hurt by it, and I have known them to be harmed by eating 

 too much of other good things. If possible, I always aim to have a bed 

 of lettuce ready when I have a hatch coming ofl. That is how much 

 I think of it. 



Next in favor is chicory. This plant is the nearest elements to 

 lettuce of anything I know; besides it is tender, succulent and bears 

 cropping well, as it is almost perennial. You can cut the tender leaves 

 and come again without injuring the plant in the least and chicks 

 like it. 



