318 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



Scratch Grains. — Continue with the soft food for three or four 

 days, then gradually substitute a scratch grain mixture consisting 

 of cracked wheat, finely cracked corn and hulled oats in equal 

 parts, to which may be added about five per cent of cracked peas 

 or broken rice, and two per cent of millet or rape seed. At the 

 same time a dry mash should be fed, which may consist of ten 

 pounds of corn meal, ten pounds of wheat bran, two pounds of 

 bone meal and one-half pound of granulated charcoal. 



Only as much of the scratching feed should be given as the 

 chicks will scratch out in ten minutes. If the chicks have range, 



the dry mash may be kept 

 before them all the time, in 

 shallow troughs or hoppers. 

 If they are confined to the 

 brooder, the mash should be 

 left before them for about 

 fifteen minutes at each fee4- 

 ing. 



If it is impossible to sup- 

 ply the chicks with milk in 

 any form, add a half pound 

 of sifted beef scrap to the 

 dry mash after the first 

 week. Increase the propor- 

 tion of scrap each week, 

 until it amounts to about four pounds at the end of a month. 



After the first week the number of feedings may be reduced to 

 four a day, and after the second week to three a day. In the 

 morning the feeds are light, so as to encourage exercise. To- 

 ward evening the heaviest feed is given, so that every chick may 

 go under the hover with a full crop. The last meal should be 

 given about an hour before sundown. 



The best way to feed the soft mixtures is on boards or heavy 

 sheets of cardboard. Tin pie plates are good, except that the 

 chicks slip about on them. Never feed the soft mixtures in the 

 litter, where they are likely to absorb filth from the droppings. 



{Courtesy Newtown Giant Incubator Company) 

 Fig. 209. — Sectional view of brooder stove. 



