50 FIRST LESSONS IN FOUL THY KEEPING. 



be considered here. Readers using such foods, and desiring to continue tlieir use rather 

 than any of the methods here described, may aak such questions as they wish about them, 

 and these will be answered ; but to consider the multitudes of "fussy" methods at length 

 Js out of the question. 



Ration I. Mash and Qrain Feeds Alternated. 



I speak of the mash and grain as "alternated" for wantof a word which in a word will 

 «onvey the idea. They are not regularly alternated all the time, but as far as convenient 

 and advisable the soft and hard feeds alternate. 



Morning. First i^eed.— Mash as recommended for hens in Ration I., Lesson I. 

 Middle of Morning. — Millet or a "chick feed" mixture. 

 Noon. — Wheat. 

 Middle of Afternoon.— M&^)i. 

 .Evening.— Cracked corn. 



If the chicks have grass run they get their own green food ; if confined where they have 

 mo grass green food must be provided. As will be noticed, the only thing this ration calls 

 for in addition to what is provided for the old fowls is the chick feed mixture. Such a 

 mixture I would recommend generally in preference to ordinary millet because it gives 

 greater variety, and is on the whole, more economical. Indeed often the cost per 100 lbs. 

 is no greater. 



Ration II. Baked Cake and Qrain Feeds Alternated. 



In this ration we simply sul)stitute a baked " johnnycake" for the mash In Ration I, 

 This cake may be made entirely of corn meal or of a mixture of corn meal with other 

 ground stuffs. This ration is to be preferred to Ration I. where only a few chicks 

 are to be fed, as a large cake may be baked which will last several days, giving the soft 

 food always ready, and making it unnecessary to mix a mash daily or oftener. When so 

 runny chicks are kept that the baking of cake for them becomes burdensome, the mash is 

 preferable. 



Ration III. Mash. Baked Cake and Grains Alternated. 



This ration may be used it it is preferred not to have mash about after the morning 

 teed, or if it is more convenient to mix only enough mash for that feed. 



A Few Recipes for Johnnycake. 

 Aiid a little soda to sour milk ; stir In corn meal or corn chop, to make a stiff batter — the 

 stifler tlie better. A few infertile eggs added improve the cake. Bake until well cooked 

 through. Make cake thick to reduce proportion of crust. 



Take one pint corn meal, one teacup bran, one teaspoonful meat meal, one raw egg, one tea- 

 spoon soda, one teacup cold water; bake two hours. 



Take three quarts corn meal, one quart wheal middlings, one cup meat meal; mix with 

 water or skimmed milk to which has been added four tablespoons vingegar, two teaspoons 

 soda. 



Ration IV. All Dry Qrain. 



For this ration bought prepared mixtures are generally used. 



Ration V. Dry Mash and Dry Qrain. 



For this again I would recommend those who use it to buy the prepared mixtures, 

 because the chick dry mash is ground more Hnely than they can get it for themselves, 

 and the mixture of grain contains a greater variety than they wo\i]d give, and when they 

 leave out mashes and johnnycakes witli the variety which is secured In the use of these, 

 and in tlieir alterniition with grain, they need greater variety In tlie grain. 

 There are scores of very good mixtures for chicks on the market, and many of them at very 

 reasonable prices. 



