Chicken Growing And Feeding

We read a great deal in agricultural journals as to crop-growing and crop-feeding. The same rules apply to growing young chickens to maturity, as the chick depends on man for its support and growth, as do crops and crop-growing depend on man for their culture and soil needs. And it is very important we know something as to the life of a chick, and its natural habits to be successful in raising a chick to maturity. The chick is an index to the full grown bird, and as he is developed into a full grown bird hinges his future usefulness. In studying the composition of an egg, we find stored therein (no matter what the mother hen had to eat. she never laid it until it was a complete composition of an egg) a perfectly natural balanced ration, and upon this the chick lives and develops during incubation; and nature goes still further, as the chick is hatched with enough of this natural diet for its need until 24 to 36 hours old. Now this being done must we commence at once feeding an unnatural food? What is a natural food for a growing chick? My first answer is, what is the composition of an egg. And second, What is the composition of a chick's meat carcass ? Each reader can figure this out for himself or herself or if he will take the pains to find it, it is already figured out for him in the various books written by poultry experts and in bulletins printed at the experiment stations.

By studying these we learn the ratio of the egg and the flesh carcass, and we must conform our feed rations to the same ratio. This all requires study, but not any more than does any avenue of life, a useful life, and I will admit that the larger per cent of chicks are grown without any of the above knowledge . But it does not go to prove that it is the right way to breed and rear poultry. Did you ever take the pains to follow the life of a bird or animal for two or three generations? If you have you can readily see the importance of knowing the chicks' life history. What we most need in our poultry breeding is "vigor and prolificness," and to obtain this we must breed, feed and rear our breeding stock on practical, natural and scientific plans. Don't be in a hurry to get freshly hatched chicks out o1. the nest. They will get chilled and die. Let Biddy complete her hatch at leisure. A whole day or more should be given to finish the work. It is a mistake to feed young chickens at once. They live on the food absorbed from the egg for about two days. To give other food in the meantime is contrary to nature and an injury. A chick's first food should not be soft and sloppy. Give stale soda crackers crumbed fine, or slightly dampened oat meal, or water-mixed cornbread without salt.

Sweet milk is good in the place of water. Don't forget to furnish the young brood with tine chick grit. Also give them green food cut fine. Give water so they can't get their feet in it. The grit may be scattered over the bottom of their coop. Keep young chickens up for three or four days. They should be good and strong before their mother leads them abroad. Even then great care must be taken to prevent drabbling in wet grass. This kills thousands. If lice appear, dust with insect powder or rub a little grease on the head and under the wings and tail of the mother. However, if the nest was properly cared for there should be no trouble. It is an old saying that cleanliness is next to godliness. This applies to the hen house as much as to anything else. It is time now to clean up.

The fanciers have done much for the improvement of poultry on esthetic lines. Form, color, and general beauty have been greatly improved. New breeds also have originated. Yet breeding on economic lines has scarcely advanced beyond its infancy. Something has been done to increase egg capacity, but selection for vigor and meat-producing advantages have made but little progress. In the last quarter of a century beef cattle and hogs have been wonderfully improved by breeding for quick growth and early maturity. Time and expense in feeding for a desired weight have been greatly reduced. In this way money is turned over more rapidly and time saved in getting on the market. Breeders must do the same for poultry. Pullets must be bred to lay at an earlier age.

The maturity of broilers, friers, and roasters must be hastened by some weeks. The government at Washington is working on these problems as appears from a report now before us. Individual breeders may also do much. This is a very interesting line of work and one that will pay handsomely. The most satisfactory fowl for the farm is a dual-purpose chicken — one that furnishes both meat and eggs. No farmer wants eggs alone. He must have friers, broilers and roasters also. The Orpington is an English bird which is growing into favor very rapidly. It is larger than the American birds and a fine layer. For the table it is unsurpassed. Many farmers find nothing better than the Orpington. The Rhode Island Reds are also exceedingly popular. Their color takes and their general character adapts them to the farm, They seem closer akin to the old red rooster, and that counts with farm people.