CHAPTER XII 



A FEW DONT'S IN RAISING CHICKS 



Don't ever put a second lot of chicks on the same ground that 

 others have been on, or in the same brooder or house until every 

 trace of the first lot of chicks has been obliterated as far as possible. 

 The first lot of chicks clean up everything in the soil that is worth 

 having, leaving nothing but their own dirt and odor. And these are 

 poisonous to the newly hatched chick. 



If compelled to run the chicks on the same ground, clean the 

 top dirt ofT and cart it away. Soak a bucketful of oats, a little millet 

 and rape seed and after spading up the ground good and deep rake in 

 the soaked seeds. 



Spray the walls and floors of the brooder house with a mild dis- 

 infectant, scrub, if necessary, the brooders, hovers, etc., until they 

 are as sweet and clean as when new. When every trace of the smell 

 has disappeared, the place i.=; fit for the new hatch, and not till then. 

 No poultryman with self respect will put newly hatched chicks in 

 dirty, ill-smelling brooders. 



Don't leave food out in wet weather and expect your chicks to 

 be all right, because they won't be if you do. Feed of all kinds 

 sours very quickly in moist weather, and sour feed causes bowel 

 trouble. If by accident this happens, the surest remedy is to move 

 the chicks to new ground if possible, feed nothing but dry grain 

 for a few days or boiled rice and cinnamon, charcoal and grit. If, 

 however, the runs are fixtures and cannot be moved, spade up the 

 ground and put as much sand on it as you can, with a little air- 

 slacked lime buried under the spading. 



Don't feed newly hatched chicks incubator eggs. They have been 

 living on that diet for some time and need a change. After ten daj'S 

 you may feed them in moderate quantities. But the best way to feed 

 them is to use them in making a Johnny cake. 



Don't — Mix sweet and sour milk. That is if you feed sour milk 

 or buttermilk one or more days, don't change off and feed sweet 

 milk, just because you happen to have it. This is a sure way to 

 ■cause bowel trouble. Bowel trouble in young chicks that have 

 started right is nearly always caused by wrong feeding, generally 

 through giving tid-bits that they would be far better without. 



Don't — Fail to keep your brooders clean, well aired and free from 

 bad smell. For the first few days they will do very well let alone. 



