BROODING 39 
strip of woven wire about twelve inches high 
should be placed around the hover about a 
foot outside of its circumference. This is 
for the purpose of confining the chicks near 
the brooder for the first thirty-six hours 
until they become hover-broken. During 
this time they should have constant access 
to sour skim milk or buttermilk. No other 
food should be given. If milk is available no 
water is necessary. 
Early Feeding of Chicks. At the end 
of thirty-six hours the wire fence may be 
removed and the chicks given a light feeding 
of dry rolled oats, the same as used for hu- 
man consumption. The next feed should be 
ordinary commercial chick feed. They 
should be fed six times a day for the first 
fourteen days on these two feeds, three 
feedings of rolled oats and three of the chick 
feed, fed alternately. Enough at each feeding 
should be given so that the chicks will be 
ten or fifteen minutes eating it up. They 
should be hungry when the next feed is given. 
At the fourteenth or fifteenth day a little 
dry mash of the following formula should be 
given in tin pie plates or on boards or 
