354 



PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



Great care should be taken not to over-feed. Best results are 

 secured in both eggs and health of fowls when they are active and 

 in normal flesh. They should only be fed what they will eat up 

 clean each day and should come hungry to every meal. During the 

 daytime their appetites should be kept keen and never entirely 

 satisfied. 



Chick Ration. — The chicks are removed to the brooder after 

 24 hours, but are not fed for from 60 to 72 hours after the' hatch 

 is completed. When the chick leaves the shell its digestive appara- 



Fig. 104. — Scattering grain in the litter. (California Station.) 



tus contains a considerable amount of unabsorbed yolk. Until this 

 is thoroughly digested and absorbed into the blood the chick's deli- 

 cate stomach is not ready to receive much feed. When they are 

 first taken to the brooder only a fountain of water should be put 

 before them. They will immediately begin picking at the sand on 

 the floor and drinking water. This prepares and hardens the crop 

 for the reception of feed. 



In feeding chicks a grain mixture composed of equal parts of 

 fine cracked wheat, fine cracked corn and steel-cut oats is fed in a 

 wooden chick hopper the first two days and left before them all the 

 time so that they can pick at the grains and learn how to eat. They 



