322 EXPERIMENTAL FIRMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



squeezed dry. This was fed a little at a time and often. Never in quantity eno-gh 

 to gorge, and none was allowed to remain about to turn sour. After a day or two 

 granulated oatmeal was given, and when convenient boiled rice. This food was given 

 for a week or ten days when a change was gradually made to a mash composed of stale 

 bread, oatmeal and cornmeal mixed with skimmed milk and fed in a crumbly condition. 

 Skim milk and water with fine grit were also provided. No grain was given until the 

 12th or 14th day, and then it was fed a little at a time and at night, until the chicks 

 were accustomed to it, when tbey were sent to brood for the night with their crops 

 full. Wheat was found the most satisfactory grain. As his chicks progress the farmer 

 should be able to utilize the table and kitchen waste, such as broken crusts, potatoes, 

 potato peelings, unused oatmeal or cornmeal porridge, &c, kc, with great benefit. Salt 

 and fat meat should not be used, and the peelings, &c, thoroughly cooked. The feed 

 should be wholesome, plain, nutritious and need not be expensive. The chickens re- 

 quire care and attention during the first five weeks of their growth, for during that 

 period they are slowly but surely feathering. The chicks of the Leghorn and kindred 

 types will be found to make the most rapid development during the first few weeks, 

 but those of the heavier breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes or Orpingtons, 

 will later on more than compensate by gain in weight. The mother hens should be 

 allowed to remain with their chickens until the latter are fully feathered. They should 

 then be removed to the runs with the other hens, and if in good condition by this time 

 should be laying or about to do so. With such care and treatment as outlined at end 

 of three or three and a half months the birds should be ready for sale, to either private 

 customer, to city store, or to one of the large purchasing companies, which are being 

 formed in different parts of the Dominion. At the age mentioned and with the care 

 and food as advised, the young cockerels of the Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte breeds 

 and Buff Orpington variety should weigh 3| pounds or 4 pounds each. And the earlier 

 they attain these weights the better price will they bring. A good plan is to put the 

 chickens in crates and feed them well for three weeks before selling them. The benefit 

 of so doing is shown further on. 



WEIGHT DEVELOPMENT OE THE CHICKENS. 



Treated and cared for as outlined from time of hatching the farm chickens made 

 rapid and satisfactory development, as the following figures will show. The chicks 

 were hatched in incubators and reared in brooders, while others were hen-hatched and 

 reared. 



Incubator-hatched on 26th February. Weighed on J/tlt June following, S months and 



5 days of age. 



Lbs. Oz. 



Barred Plymouth Rock Cockerel 3 5i 



White Wyandotte Cockerel 3 5i 



Light Brahma — B. P. Rock Cross- Cockerel 3 5 



Light Brahma — C. Dorking Cross-Cockerel 3 8 



Such chickens as the above would command a handsome price, but as they require 

 special facilities to rear them during the month of March and the early part of April, 

 the farmer with his ordinary means is not likely to have them. But with the aid 

 of incubator and brooder the farmer should be able by the first or second week in May, 

 most likely earlier, to have a large number of chickens hatched and growing rapidly in 

 a brooder, or brooders, with opportunity for the young birds to run out on the rapidly 



