POULTRY 57 



possible. This makes them more meaty and soft 

 than those that exercise. Chickens about a hundred 

 days old gain the most rapidly. They often gain 

 from one and three-fourths to two and one-fourth 

 pounds in a month. When cockerels weigh two 

 pounds or over they should be sold for broilers. 



Poultry Pests. Hawks capture many chicks. A 

 good marksman can kill a few and hang them on 

 poles around the yard as an object lesson. The 

 best remedy is to keep the chicks in yards covered 

 with wire until they are large enough to run for 

 shelter. It is well to have low-growing shrubs 

 where chickens can hide. If pigs run in the same 

 field with chickens they must be^watched, for if a 

 pig once gets a taste of chicken, he will chase them 

 continually^ Eats trouble chicks at night. Cement 

 floors and stone foundations in chicken houses will 

 keep out rats. Poison may be used if it can be kept 

 away from the chickens. 



QUESTIONS 



(1) Which do you think will pay better on the farm, 

 the Leghorns or the Barred Rocks? (2) Give reasons. 

 (3) How do fowls keep themselves clean? (4) Why 

 do we scatter grain in straw for the chickens to search 

 out? (5) Why should farmers use incubators? (6) 

 What is the use of grit in chicken feed? (7) Why is 

 oyster shell eaten by hens? (8) What is the cause of 

 soft-shelled eggs? (9) Why should chickens be penned 

 up and kept quiet when fattening for market? 



For exercises, problems and experiments, refer to the 

 Appendix. 



