THE CHICK BOOK 



19 



noon and another at night. Generally the morning and the 

 night feed are mashes composed of bran and meal of about 

 equal parts, with from ten per cent to fifteen per cent of 

 beef scraps added. Oyster shell and grit are always by 

 them, and green food is supplied as abundantly as is conven- 

 ient. Where the runs are large enough so that the green 

 food is not eaten down, no other need be 

 given, but in yards devoid of grass some sub- 

 stitute will have to be added to the grain ra- 

 tions. In addition to these regular feeds 

 three times a day many of the most prac- 

 tical and successful poultrymen keep a box 

 of cracked corn. open to them, from which 

 they may eat at pleasure. Many also keep 

 a box of coarsely ground scrap, which is keipt 

 constantly filled and which may be had at all 

 times. 



As the chickens gain in size and the 

 cockerels mature they are separated from 

 the pullets, leaving from twenty-five to 

 thirty-five or forty pullets in a flock. The 

 cockerels are removed to another yard and, 

 if designed for market birds, are fed all the 

 fattening food which they will take, and as 

 fast as they are in fit condition they are sent to market. 

 The earlier hatched pullets should not be fed quite so much 

 meat or animal food as the later hatched ones, or they will 

 begin laying too early and will molt out in the fall, thus 

 jeopardizing the supply of winter eggs. It is possible by 

 forced feeding oif animal food to induce very early laying, 

 and we this season, without extra heavy strain, have started 

 our Wyandotte pullets to laying at four and one-half 

 months, which is too early to get the best size on the birds 

 or the best results in constant egg production. Too early 

 maturity is as much to be avoided as too late, that is, the 

 pullet which grows along freely and gets a suitable frame 

 and size before beginning to lay will make the strongest 

 and most vigorous breeding bird and will in the end prove 

 the most profitable. 



We feed very little whole corn, as the cracked corn gives 

 them more exercise in scratching and feeding, and does not 

 pack so closely together in the crop. Considera;ble shelled 

 and whole oats are fed, together with some wlieat; the 

 wheat, however, is more sparingly fed on account of the 

 extra cost. We are able to get the same growing value 

 from wheat bran and beef scrap at a much less cost 



very little difference and that the chicken thalt is properly 

 fed and is in the right condition will be good to kill for 

 broilers without any extra preparation, and chickens which 

 are good broilers will, if kept, mature into good roasters. 

 One of the really necessary things to do is to get rid of 

 about nine-tenths of all the accumulated wisdom which has 



Making a Good Start, 



than we can get it from wheat, of which the best grades 

 only should be fed. Smoked and damaged grains, such as 

 are commonly on sale for poultry, are unfit for this purpose. 

 Very many fancy formulas are to be had for broiler 

 feeding as distinct from roasters. We believe there is really 



4 Flock of Future Money Makers, 



been loaded on to the chicken business, in many cases until 

 it has nearly swamped it, and to get back to a few very 

 plain principles. These briefly stated would be, sufficient 

 warmth, cleanliness, plain food, and plenty of it; these, to- 

 gether with a good range, will produce chickens at a satis- 

 factory profit, if the breeding stock has been properly se- 

 lected and bred. 



One of the very necessary points is good shade, and it 

 must be had in some way, either by trees, boards or brush. 

 sheds or otherwise. We have killed two birds with one 

 stone, or rather saved several birds with one idea by build- 

 ing a number of houses on posts, which leaves them ele- 

 vated about twelve inches or fifteen inches from the ground. 

 These coops are fioored, which keeps the birds high and 

 dry and free from dampness, and at the same time allows 

 them sufficient shelter from the sun and the draught 

 which is generally found nearest the ground, and 

 on rainy days tbey bunch together under the buildings and 

 enjoy themselves much better than they would were they 

 obliged to stay inside. A board runway leads from the 

 chicken door to the ground, giving them convenient pas- 

 sage to and from the inside. Since we have adopted this 

 method of keeping the chickens we have 

 had very much less trouble from colds and 

 greater thrift than by the former method of 

 colonizing in open front coops without floors. 

 These coops are built four by eight feet and 

 are four and one-half feet high in front and 

 three feet at back, giving a sharp pitch to 

 the roof, which sheds the water readily. 

 They are covered with tarred paper and have 

 one sash, six lights, nine Ijy twelve inches, 

 and a door twenty-four inches wide, and full 

 height of the building, which is fitted with 

 a screen for hot weather. The birds may be 

 carried in this building through the winter 

 if necessary, and before the chickens are 

 large enough in the spring to be placed in 

 them they are used for breeding pens 

 and are very convenient for this pur- 

 pose. These buildings are, as are all other quarters, 

 inhabited by chickens, thoroughly disinfected at frequent 

 intervals, with a solution of carbolic acid and water. Care 

 must be exercised that too much carbolic acid is not used 

 immediately before the chickens are shut in for any length- 



