FEEDING AND CARE OF CHICKS 109 



times a day, dividing the day into equal periods, and alter- 

 nating a mash or soft feed with a grain or scratch feed. 

 A most practical method of feeding young chicks is that 

 of keeping before them a pan or dish of sour milk for them 

 to drink .together with a pan or box of bran. This should 

 be given them as their first feed and kept before them at all 

 times in addition to the method of feeding suggested below. 

 For the first feed in the morning and the feed at noon scat- 

 ter in the litter or in a shallow trough as much johnny cake 

 broken into small bits as the chickens will eat up in a short 

 time. For the last feed in the evening they should be given 

 as much as they want. It should be kept in mind, however, 

 that more harm can be done by overfeeding young chicks 

 than by underfeeding. Johnnnycake may be made as 



follows : 



Corn meal 5 pounds 



Eggs (infertile) pounds 



Baking soda 2 tablespoonfuls 



Mix with milk to a stiff batter and bake well. 

 Note; — When infertile eggs are not available, use a double quan- 

 tity of baking soda and add one half pound of sifted beef scrap. 



The following may be used in the place of johnnycake 



where there is a considerable number of chicks to be fed 



and where the infertile eggs are available: 3 parts of dry 



bread crumbs and 1 part of hard-boiled infertile eggs mixed 



thoroughly together. Rolled oats may be used in the place 



of bread crumbs. The scratch feed to be fed after the first 



morning and noon feeds should consist of the following: 



Finely cracked corn 5 pounds 



Finely cracked wheat 3 pounds 

 Pinhead oat meal, hulled or 



rolled oats 2 pounds. 



This mixture, when available, makes an ideal ration. 



In the absence of corn, cracked Kaffir corn, rolled or hulled 



barley may be substituted. As a substitute for this grain 



ration, a reliable brand of commercial chick grain may be 



fed. After the chicks are 10 days old, discontinue feeding 



