248 FEEDING 



rations fed during the brooding period. An effort should be 

 made to keep down the cost. Owing to the small size of the 

 brooder chicks, finely ground, expensive grains are neces- 

 sary; but as the chicks grow older and larger, coarser and 

 cheaper grains may be substituted. As soon as the chicks 

 go on range, they should get the same dry mash ration that 

 was fed during the latter part of the brooding period. This 

 mash should be fed in large homemade hoppers, built to 

 hold two or three hundred pounds. They can be located a 

 short distance apart about the range. The advantage of 

 these large mashes and of a constant feed supply, is that the 

 chicks thus balance their own rations, and get a diet which 

 more nearly meets their individual requirements. The grain 

 used to supplement the dry mashes should be of simple 

 composition, and inexpensive to purchase. Only common 

 feeds grown in the locality need be selected. The following 

 is a suitable grain ration for growing poultry: 



Kind of Feed Amount 



Whole wheat 50 pounds 



Cracked corn 50 pounds 



Total 100 pounds 



The above ration should be scattered by hand broadcast 

 over the range morning and night, but only so much that the 

 youngsters will eat it up clean in one-half to three-quarters 

 of an hour. If too much is fed, it will be found lying around 

 on the ground and spoiling. This is an expensive as well 

 as a dangerous way of feeding. 



The birds should be anxious for the feed before the time 

 arrives (Fig. 137). In order to keep them evenly distributed 

 in their own colony, it is well when feeding the grain to 

 start each day at a different point of the range. If the 

 feeder begins at the same place each time, the chicks will 

 be apt to congregate there, and many will not return to their 

 own houses, but will crowd into those nearest at hand. If the 

 rations recommended are used, and the birds provided with 



