FEEDING PRACTICES AND APPLIANCES 



387 



on rape or clover. Whenever the chicks show signs of 

 diarrhea they are given some boiled rice at once and until 

 the trouble disappears. As the result of somewhat extended 

 feeding experiments Rice and Nixon' recommend the fol- 

 lowing rations and methods of feeding: 



The Ration. 



Mixture No, 1. 

 8 pounds rolled oats. 

 8 pounds bread-crumbs or 

 cracker waste. 



2 pounds sifted meat scrap 



(best grade). 



1 pound bone meal. 



Mixture No. 2. 



3 pounds wheat (cracked) . 



2 pounds cracked corn (fine) 

 1 pound pinhead oatmeal 



The Method 



One to Five Days. 

 Mixture No. 1, moistened with sour 

 skimmed milk, fed five times a day; 

 Mixture No. 2 in shallow tray containing 

 a little of No. 3 (dry) always before 

 chicks. Shredded green food and fine 

 grit and charcoal scattered over food. 



Five Days to Two Weeks. 

 No. 2 in light litter twice a day; No. 3 

 moistened with sour skimmed milk, fed 

 three times a day; No. 3 (dry) always 

 available. 



Mixture No. 3. 

 3 pounds wheat bran. 

 3 pounds corn meal. 

 3 pounds wheat middlings. 

 3 pounds meat scrap (best 

 grade). 



1 pound bone meal. 



Mixture No. 4. 

 3 pounds wheat (whole). 



2 pounds cracked corn. 

 1 pound hulled oats. 



Mixture No. 5. 



3 pounds wheat. 



3 pounds cracked corn. 



Two to Four Weeks. 

 As above, except that the moist mash is 

 given twice a day. 



Four to Six Weeks (until Chicks are on 

 Range). 

 Reduce meals of moist mash to one a day; 

 Mixture No. 4 in litter twice a day; dry 

 mash always available. 



Six Weeks to Maturity. 

 No. 3 and No. 5 hopper fed. One meal a 

 day of moist mash if it is desired to 

 hasten development. 



Further Directions. 



1. Provide fine grit, charcoal, shell, and bone from the start. 



2. Give grass range or plenty of green food. 



3. Have fresh, clean water always available. 



4. Feed only sweet, wholesome footis. 



5. Avoid damp and soiled litter. 



6. Test all meat scrap before feeding. 



7. Keep chickens active by allowing them to become hungry 



once daily. 



8. Feed moist mash sparingly. 



9. Keep dry mash always before the chicks. 



» Cornell Bulletin No. 327. 



