40 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 
containing protein, or a fair amount of it at 
least, should be ground up, and kept before the 
birds. Oats, bran, or middlings, wheat and 
barley, are all fairly rich in protein, and some 
of these feeds, in a finely ground condition, 
should be included. It is also well to add some 
corn meal, although this feed is not high in 
protein, it supplies a great amount of energy 
for the bird to move around with. As soon as 
the birds are old enough commence to feed 
cracked grains. As has been said in a pre¬ 
vious chapter, the bird ha$ no teeth, so must 
rely upon grit to grind this feed in the gizzard. 
Therefore, unless the birds have a wide 
a 
range, this grit must be artificially' supplied. 
Then the birds can help themselves to their 
needs, and suffer no digestive troubles. Fresh 
water must be before the birds at all times, 
and if no natural source is available, such as 
a running stream or brook, then fresh water 
must be placed in some sanitary container out 
in the yard or range. 
. From four to six months from the time the 
chick is hatched, it should be ready to start lay¬ 
ing eggs. The chick first has to get its growth 
and maturity, and then there is an apparent 
