IN THE POULTRY YARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18659, 30 August 1930, Page 13

IN THE POULTRY YARD

BABY CHICKS. The favourable results secured by a large number of poultry-raisers with the use of a dim light for baby chicks are being confirmed by experiments at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Professor Wm. C. Sanctuary reports that with 327 chicks under observation the lighted chicks showed a gain in growth at four weeks of age, which varied from 8 to 15 per cent., depending upon the breed. This gain did not come from eating during the night, but it was noted that the dim light kept the chicks spread out in the most comfortable sleeping belt available, and enabled them to find their way back to the hover without becoming chilled. It was also observed that on cold mornings the lighted group of chicks lost no time before starting to drink and eat, while a large portion of those in the unlighted group first took time off to get warm under the hover.

Where electricity is available, either from a farm lighting plant or transmission line, a ten-watt light was recommended. This assures a dependable light which will not blow out or become an extra fire hazard. Feeding Young Chicks. Just what and just how to feed baby chicks are questions that are being asked very frequently at this season of the year. It has frequently been pointed out that successful chick feeding is both a science and an art. That it is a science is shown by the fact that there are certain fundamental principles of nutrition which must be recognised and followed in formulating a feeding system, or the system will result in failure. All who have fed chickens in considerable numbers are probably willing to admit that there is something of an art involved in getting maximum results. No ration, even though it be complete and extremely elaborate, can take the place of common sense, or, more correctly, perhaps, “chicken sense,” on the part of the feeder.

Any ration that is to provide for successful and rapid growth in young chicks must contain an abundance of the heat and energy-forming foods or carbohydrates, sufficient proteins of the right quality for muscle-building, certain necessary minerals, some fibre or indigestible material to give bulk to the ration, and the vitamins It should be obvious that there is no single “best” ration, for the simple reason that the essential factors may be provided in several different ways. Reduced to simple terms, the problem of the individual flock-owner is now to provide a complete and suitable ration in the easiest manner and at a reasonable cost.—“ Hoard’s Dairyman.”