PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



lined in Ration No. 1 in Chapter 4. The mash, oats, and milk 

 constitute the ration until the end of the second week. At 

 that time a change is made to ration No. 2. The change is 

 made gradually, and at the end of the fourth week change to 

 Ration No. 3. If milk is available throughout the feeding 

 period, the amount of meat scrap in the mash maj be reduced 

 5 per cent. The mash can be fed moist if desired. 



After the s'econd week, green or succulent feed should be 

 supplied daily. The milk is given in the forenoon, as it will 

 ahvays be sweet at that time. At noon it is removed, the 

 vessel cleaned, and water given in the afternoon. 



A cool room adjoining the brooder room is always recom- 

 mended as an essential of successful brooding. This room is 

 connected with the brooder room by an opening or a hinged 

 door. If there is but one room, the brooder is placed in one 

 corner or end of the room so that the other portion can be used 

 as a cool room for feeding and exercise. The floors should 

 be covered with two inches of clean, gritty sand, and upon 

 this is placed about an inch of clean, bright, short-cut alfalfa 

 or alsike clover. Chaff from the barn or straw stack is usually 

 unsafe as it contains the spores of Aspergillus. Short-cut rye 

 straw or wheat straw might answer if bright and clean. The 

 scratch feed can be thrown in the litter in the cool room, but 

 should never be fed in litter contaminated with the droppings 

 of chicks or other filth. A good plan is to provide a feed box 

 three feet square and two inches deep. The feed is thrown 

 in litter upon the bottom of this box. When the chicks are 

 through feeding, the box is removed and in that way is kept 

 reasonably clean. This will answer while the chicks are small. 



The temperature under the hover can be gradually reduced 

 during the first week from 100 degrees to 95 degrees; in the 

 , second week from 95 degrees to 90 degrees ; and in the third 

 week to 85 degrees. If the weather is mild the chicks can be 

 weaned from the stove brooder when they are four weeks old 

 and removed to a colony house with fireless brooder. A very 

 simple affair will answer for the fireless brooder, a frame, with 

 legs at corners, covered with flannel or muslin and a border 

 around the sides. 



Chicks should never be allowed to become chilled, for a 

 chilled chick is a ruined chick. This happens when they are 

 unable to find their way to the brooder or when the lamp or 

 stove fails for want of fuel or attention. 



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