POULTRY-KEEPING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4465, 11 September 1922, Page 4

POULTRY-KEEPING.

FEEDING BROODER CHICKS. Chicks require nothing to eat for thirty to forty ihours after hatching. Thon for the first few days they should be kept on the hungry side, only allowing them what they will pick up in a few minutes. Tlhey should be fed every two hours for the first few days, and the intervals should be gradually extended as they grow older. For feeding young chicks there are many different grain mixtures that will give equal results. For the first two days they may be given dry coarse oatmeal. From then to a month old the following may b? fed: crushed wheat, 551 b! crushed maize, 151 b; hulled oats, 301 b. Of course, quantities in proportion can be mixed to suit individual cases. Before using the mixture should' be moistened witjh, hot water or sweet skim milk and allowed to stand for about an hour. It should be well stirred at least once during this time. | In this way the food will swell and j become more easily assimilated than • is the case when fed in a dry form, which is an unnatural food for little dhicks. Here the mother hen with her brood, when, under natural conditions, gives another forcible lesson, for it is obvious that hard grains

would not be available put of doors at this period of the year. Whatever grain ration is provided some dry bran should be placed in shallow trays, tins, etc., and left before the chicks for them to pick at. Chicks are very fond bf this, and usually what they like is good for them. From the start clean water, grit, and charcoal should be always before the birds. Do not forget an ample supply of green stuff, and whatever may be supplied see that it is not old and fibrous, else crop and gizzard compaction will result, which usually causes death.