226 



Notes on Poultry Feeding. 



[JUNE, 



With birds on a free range considerable natural food is now 

 available, and a corresponding " cut " can be made in the 

 feeding costs. The amount fed per bird is often a matter of 

 comment. In adult birds it should not exceed 4 oz. per day 

 while laying, though it may be increased to the limit of the 

 birds' appetite during a period of stress such as the moult. 

 It will, however, be found in practice that about 4 oz. represents 

 the maximum required, and this should not be exceeded. 



As regards chick feeding, any unwise parsimony is apt to 

 prove very expensive in the long run, and every attempt 

 should be made to keep the young stock growing. Dry chick 

 feeds are at present very expensive, and during the last month 

 have jumped up about 20 per cent. — the price ruling for 

 most samples being about 40s. per cwt. At this price they are 

 too expensive, most of them consisting principally of broken 

 wheat, maize and rice, and a considerable quantity of millet 

 which is apt to be w^asted. By far the most economical plan, 

 if the material is available, is to mix the hard feed at home 

 in the following proportions : — • Wheat, 8 parts ; rice, 2 parts , 

 linseed, i part ; maize, 2 parts ; dari, i part ; millet, i part ; 

 but in all probability the material will not be available, or 

 difficulty will be experienced in having it properly kibbled. 

 In this case, kibbled wheat will probably prove the best hard 

 food. Chicks should be fed at least five times a day alternately 

 on grain and mash feeds. A suitable mash can be made of sharps, 

 oatmeal, clover meal and fishmeal in the proportions 8:4:2:1. 

 It should be mixed with sweet separated milk, and a dash of 

 charcoal may be added to each feed. If kibbled wheat only is 

 fed as a dry food an addition can be made to the mash of 

 boiled rice and linseed. The rice and linseed are mixed dry 

 and then boiled or steamed and a small quantity added to 

 each mash feed. 



No definite weight of food should be allotted to chicks — 

 care only being taken that no surplus is fed, and that everything 

 is cleared up at each meal and that each chick has a fair share. 

 The actual weight, however, will depend largely on the rate 

 of growth maintained, the weather, etc. ; and the chicks' appetite 

 is by far the best guide. 



