288 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



The chicks are kept in rather restricted quarters and 

 fed all the food they can utilize without endangering 

 health. A pen six feet by three feet will accommodate 

 thirty chicks nicely during their two months of growth. 



Chaff or cut hay litter is scattered in the runs and 

 the chicks are managed practically the same as brood- 

 er chicks that are to be grown to maturity. 



This branch of poultry keeping may readily be added 

 to the regular business because it is conducted in the 

 winter season and without great increase in expense 

 for labor. 



Following this season there is a demand for spring 

 broilers which continues through the spring and summer 

 even into the autumn. These chicks are grown until 

 they weigh one and one-half to two pounds apiece. 



Frequently the poultryman prefers to raise his pullot 

 chicks to maturity but disposes of the cockerels as 



SOFT ROASTERS AND CAPONS 



A good business may be done by hatching chicks 

 late in the summer, brooding in autumn, growing 

 through the winter and selling them as plump roasters 

 in spring. 



Good eggs for hatching are liable to be somewhat 

 scarce in the fall, incubating is more uncertain than la 

 the spring and brooding during the months preceding 

 winter has its difficulties but with suitable equipment 

 and good management the obstacles can all be overcome 

 and ver$ satisfactory sales made in spring when there 

 is practically no competition in the market for this 

 class of goods. 



The cockerel chicks are capontzed at about three 

 months age and these with the plump pullets taken 

 when about ready to lay, make the finest of soft roasters. 

 The prices obtained for these birds in city markets are 

 usually very satisfactory. 



Light Brahmas and White Plymouth Rocks are fav- 

 orite varieties of fowl for this kind of poultry farming. 



Cheap colony houses are used by some poultry farm- 

 ers who follow this line of production. 



