REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 257 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



latter were permitted to remain in their nest for twenty-four or thirty-six hours, 

 when with the mother hen they were placed in a slatted coop on the grass outside. 

 The coop was so arranged that it could be securely closed at night while ventilation 

 was secured. Through the slats the chicks could run on the grass outside, while the 

 hen remained inside. On the floor of the coop was sand to the depth of two inches. 

 On taking the mother hen from her nest she was given food and water. She had been 

 probably thirty-six hours on the nest bringing out her chickens and deserved the 

 attention. Apart from this she would be more likely to brood the chicks contentedly, 

 after being fed, than if hungry or thirsty. How important it is to have early chicks 

 carefully brooded is well known to all experienced breeders. The rations and treat- 

 ment of former years were adopted, viz., stale bread crumbs followed by stale bread 

 soaked in milk and squeezed dry. This for a day or two, when granulated oat- 

 meal was given. Crushed corn was not given until after eight days, and whole 

 wheat was not fed until twelfth or fourteenth day. As the chicks grew, a mash com- 

 posed of shorts, cornmeal, stale bred and a small quantity of prepared meat was 

 mixed with boiling skim milk, allowed to cool and was given three or four times per 

 day. Occasionally small potatoes were boiled and mixed into the mash. Milk and 

 water were both furnished for drink. 



The incubator-hatched chickens were allowed to remain in the nursery of the 

 machines for twenty-four or thirty-six hours when they were put in the brooders 

 outside. The chicks were fed the same rations as those outlined above. 



WEIGHTS OF CHICKENS. 

 On the above rations the chickens made the following development 



A cross of Light Brahma, male, and Barred Plymouth Rock, female, produced 

 fine, large, hardy birds, which grew rapidly and made flesh quickly. It was one of the 

 best crosses tried in our department. 



Three cockerels of the above cross hatched by incubator on June 9 and 16 weighed 

 when killed on December 18," 8 pounds 6 ounces, 8 pounds 5 ounces, and 6 pounds 8 

 ounces, respectively. The plate on frontispiece shows the appearance the birds pre- 

 sented when dressed for market. 



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