FEEDING PRACTICES AND APPLIANCES 



389 



and they also have access to ground oats, fed from the 

 hopper or flats. 



After the eighth week the composition of the mash is 

 varied to suit tlie needs of the birds, as inthcated l>y their 

 stage of development. This change is generally made by 

 decreasing the proportion of gluten, as indicated: 



Bran 



Corn meal or barley meal 



Gluten . 



Daisy flour (or any low-grade flour) 



Beef scrap . 



Parts \jy weight 



. 10 



15 



2J 



5 



5 



The mash is always fed dry. 



During tlie first three weeks the tops of sprouted oats 

 cut fine are furnished for succulence and horn three weeks 

 on rape or clover. Whenever the chicks sliow signs of 

 diarrhea they are given some lioiled rice at once and until 

 the trouble disappears. As the result of somewhat extended 

 feeding experiments Rice and Nixon' reconunend the fol- 

 lowing rations and methods of feeding: 



The Ration 



Mixture No. 1. 

 8 pounds rolled oats. 

 8 pounds bread-crumbs or 

 cracker wa^te. 



2 pounds sifted meat scrap 



(best grade) 



1 pound bone meal. 



Mixture No. 2. 



3 pounds wheat (cracked). 



2 pounds cracked corn (fine) 

 1 pound pinhead oatmeal 



The Method 



One to Five Day:;. 

 Mixture No. 1, nidisfened with sour 

 skimmed milk, fed five times a day; 

 Mi.xture No. 2 in shallow tray containing 

 a little of No. 3 (drj') always before 

 chicks. Shredded green food and fine 

 grit and charcoal scattered over food. 



Five Daij'i to Two Weeks. 

 No. 2 in light litter twice a day; No. 3 

 moistened with sour skimmed milk, fed 

 three times a day; No. 3 (dry) always 

 available. 



Mixture No. 3. 

 3 pounds wheat bran. 

 3 pounds corn meal. 

 3 pounds wheat middlings. 

 3 pounds meat scrap (best 



grade). 

 I pound bone meal. 



Two to Four JVeek;. 

 As abo\'e, except that the moist mash is 

 given twice a day. 



■Cornell Bulletin No. 327. 



