PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 91 



tearing of the tender skin and thoroughly cooled. They 

 are not drawn and the heads are not removed. Any 

 blood on the beak is sponged off. After all the body- 

 heat has escaped! the broilers are packed in, a clean box 

 of suitable size, alternating the layers of chicks laid on 

 their sides, spoon-fashion close together, with layers of 

 bright clean straw, if the weather is cool enough to 

 ship without ice. If the weather is warm, cracked ice 

 is used between the layers of broilers. Pack closely so 

 that there will be no shifting and consequent bruising 

 of the birds. Nail or fasten the cover on tight. Write 

 plainly on the package the address of the customer and 

 of the shipper. Also write a letter to the customer ad- 

 vising him of the time of shipping and the contents of 

 the package. 



SPRING BROILERS. 



Hatching of chicks for spring broilers usually be- 

 gins in January or February. White Wyandottes are a 

 favorite variety for this purpose on account of their 

 maturing early and making plump breasted broilers. 

 The plan is to grow the chicks to about two pounds dress- 

 ed weight. The directions given for the management 

 of brooder chicks in Chapter IV will suit the needs of 

 chicks intended to be sold as spring broilers. These 

 chicks may have somewhat more exercising room than 

 the squab-broiler chicks but should be confined within 

 the brooder runs. Their feeding may be less forcing 

 than that of squab-broilers because a longer time is 

 taken for their growth and all risk of inducing leg 

 weakness or indigestion should be avoided. They should 

 however, 'be kept growing steadily and 1 without halting 

 come to a plump condition and be ready for marketing 

 by the time they are twelve to fifteen weeks old. They 

 are finished 1 off, fasted, killed, prepared for market and 

 shipped as described for squab-broiler chicks. 



REARING CHICKS AFTER BROODING. 



In growing cockerels to be marketed v in autumn or 

 early winter as roasters, in raising cockerels and pul- 



