RATIONS AND METHODS OF FEEDING 333 



Chicks should be provided with green pasture, made by 

 spading up their run and sowing it down in oats or rape, and 

 the chicks kept off of it till the young forage is about 1 to 2 

 inches high. Do not turn them on the pasture till it is dry, 

 as dew or rain makes the grass dangerous. 



Birds drink much water, and clean water must be kept 

 before them at all times. The pans must be thoroughly 

 washed each day, and if infection is among the chicks, must be 

 disinfected once to twice a day with a 5 per cent, carbolic acid 

 solution. Avoid foul, damp ground, and if brooding is done 

 with the hen, keep her confined till the chicks are weaned. 

 While brooding the hens' quarters should be moved to clean 

 fresh ground once a week. The brooder coop must be thor- 

 oughly disinfected occasionally. The hen and chicks must 

 be kept free from lice and other vermin. 



In chick raising the males, and, at times, both males and 

 females, are disposed of as broilers. Broiler feeding may be 

 divided into three periods, as follows — growing, forcing, and 

 fattening. 



The length of the growing period is about four weeks. 



There is some difference between the early maturing and the 

 slower-growing kind. 



The chick ration, as outlined above, may be given for the 

 first period or four weeks. 



The second period the ration differs from the growing ration 

 in that it contains more protein. The protein content may be 

 raised by adding cottage cheese to the ration or by increasing 

 the meat scrap. 



Cracked corn (coarse parts), cracked wheat, and hulled oats, 

 equal parts, should be kept before them in hoppers at all times. 

 In addition to this the following dry mash should be kept 

 before them in the dry mash hopper: 



Wheat bran : 4 parts. 



Wheat shorts .' 4 " 



Cornmeal 2 " 



Meat scrap 3 " 



Charcoal 1 part. 



Nutritive ratio 1 : 2.5. 



Clabber nulk or buttermilk should be kept before them at all 

 times. 



