THE FARM FLOCK (POULTRY) 95 



whole wheat, and the finely cracked corn by the coarse cracked corn, 

 when the chicks are six to eight weeks old. After the chicks have free 

 range, the grain mixture may be changed to equal parts of cracked corn 

 and whole wheat. The same dry mash should be continued until the 

 chicks are mature. The grain may also be fed in hoppers after this time. 

 The Care of Growing Chicks. The age at which chicks may be 

 deprived of artificial heat will depend upon weather conditions and the 

 co'ndition of the chicks. This should not be done until all danger of sudden 

 changes in temperature is past and the chicks are well feathered out. 

 During the brooding period the brooders may be kept close to the farm- 

 stead and small, portable runs provided for the chicks. As the chicks 

 increase in size, the brooder should be moved farther away and the size 

 of the yards increased. As soon as the chicks no longer require artificial 

 heat they should be given free range. They must have plenty of shade, 

 abundant pasture, be kept free from lice and mites and protected from 

 their natural enemies. The brooder should be proof against rats, weasels, 

 etc., and should be closed every night. The chicks should be confined to 

 the house in the morning until the grass is well dried off. This practice 

 should be followed at least until they are half grown. The cockerels should 

 be separated from the pullets as soon as the sex can be determined. It is 

 advisable to caponize all males except a few of the most promising to be 

 reserved for breeding purposes. The pullets will be hindered in their 

 development if the cockerels are allowed to remain with them. The 

 cockerels, if not caponized, should be put together in a separate field or 

 on another part of the farm. 



The Care of the Pullets. The pullets should be transferred from 

 the colony house on the range to their permanent winter quarters as soon 

 after.the first of September as possible. This will give them an opportunity 

 to become accustomed to their new surroundings before cold weather sets 

 in. Careful attention must be given the pullets at this time. There is 

 usually a tendency for them to crowd on the roosts at night or to roost 

 above the open doors and windows. This should be prevented, as it may 

 result in colds which will hinder egg production. The bulk of the eggs 

 received from October 1st to March 1st are produced by the pullets. 



Feeding Mature Fowls. The principal object in feeding should be 

 to use the poultry on the farm for the purpose of converting grains, mill 

 by-products and waste materials not suitable for human consumption 

 in their raw state into concentrated, easily handled, nutritious food 

 products. For this reason the farmer should make use of grains grown 

 on his own farm and of mill products which are easily obtained at com- 

 paratively low prices, supplementing them with the necessary protein 

 concentrates. 



Suitable rations may be made from a great many combinations of 

 grains and mill feeds. There is no one combination which is superior to 

 all others under all conditions. For this reason it is possible for the farmer 



