PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 29 



care of the fowls have much to do with their welfare and 

 future usefulness as breeding stock. Summed up, these 

 surrounding influences should result in continual com- 

 fort for the fowls. 



Conditions of environment causing discomfort are 

 sure to check the development and growth and result in 

 impaired breeding quality. Unhealthy surrounding con- 

 ditions may induce disease and destroy breeding power. 



Much, therefore, depends upon the selection and 

 maintenance of right conditions of environment for poul- 

 try. Here is ample opportunity for the poultry breeder 

 to exert his power, for most of the surounding condi- 

 tions are under his control. Suppose, for example, that 

 he has fifty little chicks which he is rearing in a brood- 

 er. If he selects and maintains for them a continuous 

 comfortable temperature, other conditions being also 

 favorable, the chicks grow thriftily and bring both 

 pleasure and profit to their owner. If, however, the 

 other conditions remaining favorable, he, by careless- 

 ness or accident, permits the chicks to get chilled, this 

 one item of the environment being wrong, trouble be- 

 gins, digestive disorder very likely follows, growth is 

 checked or halted, many of the chicks die and those 

 remaining alive do not prosper. 



The food might not, at first thought, seem to be 

 one of the conditions of environment. It does not sur- 

 round the fowl, rather the fowl surrounds it. Con- 

 sider, however, that the digestive tract is really a long 

 tube extending through the bird's body. It has a lin- 

 ing or skin on the inside. The organs and parts of the 

 bird really lie between this inner skin and the outer 

 skin of the body. Even the food in the digestive canal 

 may be considered as outside of the vital parts of the 

 animal, i. e. separated from them by the lining of the 

 canal. Certainly nothing should be allowed to come in 

 contact with the outside or inside lining of the bird 

 which would inflict injury. 



One of the most important items of environment 

 is the foodi, which should be wholesome, healthful, 



