392 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



the litter at least 5 times a day, pains being taken to have the chicks out from 

 under the hover to see the feed when it falls. The next day and thereafter they 

 are given a very light feed of moist mash made up of equal parts of corn meal, 

 rolled oats, bran, and middlings. This is moistened with sour milk. Any mash 

 that is not eaten after 15 or 20 minutes is removed. This method of feeding is 

 continued until the chicks are 3 weeks old, when the rolled oats are gradually 

 dropped from the ration. At about this time whole wheat and medium cracked 

 corn are added to the chick feed and are increased as rapidly as the chicks learn 

 to eat it. As soon as they show a willingness to eat the coarser feed the fine 

 feed is omitted. When the chicks are 2 weeks old, a small hopper is filled with 

 a mash of 2 parts ground corn, 2 of bran and 1 of middlings. Another hopper 

 containing meat scrap of a good grade is also placed in the pen. The chicks are 

 given free access to these feeds. Green feed, grit, charcoal, and water should 

 always be before them. 



Second method. — Stale bread crumbs moistened with sour milk are fed after 

 the chicks are 48 hours old. Squeeze bread nearly dry. Give sour milk or water 

 to drink. After the first 5 days give a moist mash of bran and ground corn 

 with chopped onions or other green feed. Feed wheat screenings and cracked 

 corn after the first week. Early in the season stir this into a litter of clover 

 chaff. 



Third method. — Feed Johnny cake for the first 10 days. This is made as 

 follows: Mix 1 pint of finely ground corn, 1 teacupful wheat bran, 1 teaspoon- 

 ful ground meat, 1 teaspoonful soda, and 1 teacupful sour milk, and bake 1 hour. 

 Feed 4 times a day. Stir a little chick feed or other fine grain into the litter. 

 Provide green feed, grit, water, and charcoal. 



Fourth method. — Feed chick feed in litter 5 times a day for the first 10 days; 

 after that feed chick feed 3 times a day. Give in addition a moist mash made 

 of equal parts of bran, ground corn, and ground barley (with coarse hulls sifted 

 out) twice daily. Give milk, green feed, grit, water, and charcoal as recom- 

 mended in first method. 



When the chicks have ample range, they can often pick up in the 

 form of worms and insects practically all of the animal feed that is nec- 

 essary. However, where chicks are raised on a large scale, it always 

 pays to supply additional animal matter. For this purpose, skim 

 milk and buttermilk are the best, if they can be obtained. Other 

 forms of animal feed are discussed in the following chapter. Ground 

 bone, which should be fed in a hopper, supplies mineral elements that 

 help the chick to grow a good, strong frame. Fresh, finely ground 

 green bone can also be supplied, but care should be taken to see that 

 it is fresh and sweet, and is fed in small quantities. 



From the start the chick should have access to finely crushed rock, 

 coarse sand, fine gravel, or specially prepared commercial grit. The 

 "chick size" white limestone is especially valuable. Fine charcoal 

 should also be supplied whenever possible. Both the grit and the char- 

 coal may be mixed with the scratch feed and fed in small quantities, 

 or each may be put into a separate compartment of a hopper after 

 the first few days. 



Pullets and cockerels. — Pullets should be grown in a movable colony ■ 



