Money in Broilers and Squabs. 53 



As is well known the chick comes from the shell without the 

 least bit of appetite. Scientists say that nature has given it the 

 power to absorb the contents of the yolk prior to its coming out oi 

 the shell, consequently it is not necessary to give any food for at 

 least twenty-four hours. Some writers say thirty-six hours after 

 hatching is early enough for the first feed, but we always dish up 

 the first meal after they are a day and a night old. After we hatch 

 out the chicks we put them in a nursery where we keep them for 

 the first ten days or two weeks. After that they are removed to the 

 regular brooding-house. Upon the floor of this nursery we cover 

 about a half inch of bran, so that when the chick is ready to eat, 

 it will find some food right before it. Then, in a little trough we 

 place rolled oats, or pin-head oatmeal, and subsequently begin, say 

 about a week afterwards, a mash feed. We might as well here add 

 that we also give stale bread-crumbs to alterate with the rolled 

 oats, until they have their stomachs more fortified for heavier food. 

 Some of the broiler men in this town grind up, or finely crack, whole 

 wheat, which they feed instead of the rolled oats. We like both 

 methods, but think more favorably of the oats diet. We also give 

 boiled milk as a diet. 



Some writers think that for the first few days it is best not to 

 give any water. We diflfer. Deprive the youngsters of something 

 to drink and they will fairly gorge themselves when allowed to get 

 to the water. We do not, however, start with water ; we boil milk, 

 and give that instead. 



There used to be an opinion that hard-boiled eggs was the best 

 food to start with, but we think that too much reliance had been 

 placed upon that diet. It has been proved beyond a doubt that an 

 excessive use of hard-boiled eggs will produce bowel troubles. 

 There can be no harm in a judicious use of them, but we have found 

 more virtue in saturating bread-crumbs with a fresh egg. 



Two parts of bran, and one part of corn meal, scalded several 

 hours before using, is an excellent food after the chicks are a week 

 old. But two parts bran, and one part each of corn meal and ground 

 wheat is better. A little of meat scraps — say a handful to a pail of 

 the above mixture — should also be added. 



After two weeks of age, cracked wheat and cracked corn makes 

 a substantial meal. From the start, grit of some kind must be 

 within reach. Some use fine flint ; some finely cracked oyster shells ; 

 and some fine gravel. It matters not what kind is used. Powdered 

 charcoal should also be kept in a little box in the pen so the chicks 

 can help themselves. _ , , , 



Green food, as chopped up onion tops, or cabbage leaves, are 

 very beneficial. Lettuce can be raised early in the season in hot- 

 beds and a better and more tender plant cannot be found. Where 

 greens are scarce, roast potatoes, cut into halves, furnish a grand 

 substitute • and even when greens are fed, it gives an extra treat. 



Corn meal, in some form or other, is the "staff" upon which to 

 prow good broilers. It can be used in regular johnny cakes, or 

 what is known as southern corn bread. 



