Another important consideration in raising the young chick to maturity is the matter of food. Probably no other thing is responsible for such a high mortality in young chicks, as is improper feeding. We have learned in a previous chapter that it is exceedingly dangerous to feed the chick anything in the line of food for the first two days of its life. Many people are afraid the chicks will die if not fed immediately after hatching, and hasten to feed the chick all that it will eat. Unless the chick is endowed with a wonderful digestive system, it will succumb to this over-feeding through digestive disorders. It is permissible to put a little grit before the chick at this time, because the chick has no teeth, and never will have, so they eat the grit, and this grit passes down to the gizzard, which grinds the food in place of grinding with the teeth, as with other animals. Fresh water is also good for the chick during this period, as the water quenches their thirst, and makes them livelier. Towards the end of the second day, it is well to feed the chick a little sour skim milk, or buttermilk. Sour milk is superior to the sweet milk for two reasons. First, the sour skim milk has bacteria that aid in digestion, and secondly, it will be found that it will be hard to keep the milk sweet all the time, and by feeding sweet milk part of the time, and then letting it become sour, digestive troubles are liable to develop. Hence, by having it sour all the time, no danger from this source will be experienced. Now, we are ready to consider what kind of grain we shall feed the chick. On the third day we can start to feed a little grain. What is known as pinhead oatmeal is very good to start the young chick out on. Some feed hard boiled eggs and dried bread for the first feeding with good results. It is important to note that only enough of this first solid food should be fed that they can clean up in a short time. Keep them hungry, and remember that it is much safer to under feed than to over feed. For the next week, or so, a scratch ration, composed of cracked corn, pinhead oatmeal, cracked wheat, together with a little grit, and finely ground oyster shells can be fed. This can be fed in the litter, so that the chicks have to exercise to get it. In fact, that is just what we mean by a scratching ration; one composed of whole or cracked grains, mixed in with the litter, so that the chicks will have to scratch for their feed, and thereby obtain the exercise necessary to their health. If a little green feed of any kind can be added, so much the better. Green grass is excellent to throw into the chicks.