148 HATCHING AND REARING 



Feeding. — Feeding the youngsters during the summer 

 months is a simple process. Only two rations are necessary, 

 a grain feeding and a dry mash. A good grain ration for 

 use on the range consists of equal parts of cracked com and 

 whole wheat. This should be scattered broadcast about the 

 range morning and night. The dry mash ration should 

 consist of the following proportion of ingredients: 



Wheat bran 50 pounds 



Ground oats 10 pounds 



Gluten meal 10 pounds 



Corn meal 10 pounds 



Alfalfa meal 10 pounds 



Meat scrap 5 pounds 



Bone meal 5 pounds 



Total 100 pounds 



This should be put in large feeding hoppers located near 

 each other about the range. The mash enables the chicks 

 to balance their own ration, promotes the more uniform de- 

 velopment of the birds, and greatly reduces the labor of 

 feeding. Plenty of fresh water should be at hand. If the 

 range is not piped with running water, large drinking vessels 

 or barrels can be located at accessible points, and frequently 

 replenished with water, which is allowed to drop continu- 

 ously. 



Management. — Three important things the poultryman 

 must bear in mind when caring for the growing stock during 

 the summer. The first is to protect them from enemies. If 

 rats are allowed to become plentiful, they will prey upon 

 the chickens, and many will be lost. If the range is wooded 

 land far from the house, hawks and crows may do consider- 

 able damage. Weasels and minks, if abundant, will kill 

 large numbers, and so may dogs or cats if not properly 

 trained. The poultryman must watch the growth of his 

 birds, and have conditions such that they will grow continu- 

 ously without any setback. Lastly, he must feed abun- 

 dantly. If the chicks are to gain in weight, they must be 



