384 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Chick Feeds Must be Sweet. — In feeding little clucks it is 

 absolutely essential that the grains be perfectly free from 

 mould or must and the meat scraps from taint. So important 

 is this in newly hatched chicks that poultrymen frequently 

 SO to the expense of purchasing kiln-dried grain in order that 

 they may he sure that it has not heated or moulded. A 

 feeder should always take the precaution to bury the nose 

 in a double handful of any grain intended for newly hatched 

 youngsters in an efl'ort to detect the slightest suggestion 

 of sourness or mustiness. Meat scraps should also be care- 

 fully scrutinized for taint (see page 34:i). Only those feeds 

 which are i)erfectly sweet may be fed without grave danger 

 of a high death rate. 



Chick Rations. — Philips' reports excellent results from the 

 following ration for chicks: 



Ghain. Mash. 



G poundb cracked corn (sifted; 2 pounds bran 

 4 pounds cracked wheat 2 pounds shorts 



2 pounds "steel cut" oats h pound charcoal 



All of the sour milk or Ijultermilk 

 the chicks will drink. 

 All the j^reen feed the clucks will consume. Grit and s^ranulated 

 bone before them all the time. 



If milk is not available, 2^ pounds of hue meat scrap must 

 be added to the mash. The milk, however, is very much 

 preferred. 



For chicks, as for old stock of whatever class, the drinking 

 water should be plentiful, kept fresh and always contain 

 enough jierinanganate of potassium to gi\'e it a rich wine 

 color. The reason for doing the latter with all classes of 

 stock is that it helps to keep in check intestinal parasites 

 oF \arious sorts, and is an excellent means of preventing the 

 spread of such diseases as effect the nasal ca\itics, mouth 

 and intestinal tract, through the drinking water. 



The grain is fed in a litter from the first and the mash 

 supplied in a suitalilc hopper when the birds are five to 

 seven days old. If it is desirable to force the chicks rapidly, 

 the proportion of mash may be increased. 



' Put due Extension Leallct, No. 72. 



