Feeding.—The farmer has often become discouraged by the elaborate rations which are recommended by poultrymen to be used in feeding the chickens. While some of the by-products of industries, such as Linseed Meal and Meat Meal are necessary, most of the feed used in poultry raising may be raised on the farm. It is well to be familiar with the different values of foods fed to the chickens, for they like a change in their rations, and it is necessary that they have it. If the food contains too much fat, the hens will become too fat, which will lessen their usefulness as egg producers; while if the food contains too much protein, some symptoms of indigestion will result. It is hard to determine the right amount of fat and protein to be fed to the chickens, for this varies to suit conditions and the purpose for which it is fed.

Broad Ration Food Available
Protein Fat
2 parts wheat bran .244 .906
1 part wheat middlings .128 .607
1 part cornmeal .079 .764
⅒ part meat meal .066 .033
—— ——
.517 2.310
Ratio 1: 4.4
Narrow Ration Food Available
Protein Fat
2 parts wheat bran .244 .906
1 part wheat mids .128 .607
⅒ part linseed meal .029 .048
⅒ part meat meal .066 .033
—— ——
.467 1.594
Ratio 1: 3.4

Young chicks should be fed a dry or wet feed forty-eight hours after they are hatched. Nature has already provided them with yolk of egg, which must be digested before they are given more food. Their first feed must be fine grit or a drink of sour milk. In two hours after the first feeding they may be given dry oat flakes with an egg which has been boiled for an hour, or a Johnny cake made of ten parts of cornmeal, two parts of wheat middlings, two parts of wheat bran, mixed with skimmed milk and baked. Change this diet after a week to a dry ration—for example, two parts of cracked wheat, two parts of oat flakes, four parts of cracked corn, one part of rice, and one part of millet. Plenty of green food and sour milk should be fed to them. Feed them often, but in small proportions. Let them take plenty of exercise. It is important to keep the hen up and allow the chicks to run out until they are weaned.

DRY MASH HOPPER NO. 1

There are many kinds of dry mash hoppers on the market but it is difficult to find one that is not wasteful. This hopper which is made of poplar is easily made and it has been found to be very successful. It may be built of the desired length and made to hold the required amount of dry mash. The most important detail in the building of this hopper is the slope of the bottom which must be at an angle of forty-five degrees with the wall of the henhouse. It must be built well off the floor with a roost placed for the hens to stand on while they are feeding. This will keep the litter out of the hopper. The wire netting must be of one-quarter inch square mesh which is fastened to the hopper and stretched to the bottom of the trough at its lowest point.

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