THE PRACTICAL COUNTRY GENTLEMAN 



early spring, the eggs must be set as early In 

 the autumn as possible, a time unfortunately 

 when eggs are scarce and high in price, as the 

 old hens are in the process of moulting. As 

 soon as the chicks are old enough to be fed, they 

 should be given small quantities of " chick 

 food," which is scattered in the litter in the 

 *' sun parlor " part of the brooder, if it be of 

 the outdoor type; or if a piped brooder-house 

 has been built, a low board fence eight inches 

 high should be set up around the entrance, leav- 

 ing a space 2 by 3 feet for the youngsters to ex- 

 ercise In until they are three or four days old, 

 when they may have the run of the entire pen. 

 Outdoor brooders must be placed in a brooder- 

 house during the winter; and the house should 

 be provided with sufficient heat to keep the tem- 

 perature about 40 degrees In zero weather. 



Each pen must be supplied with a box of 

 grit and charcoal and pure water. In order to 

 force chicks along as rapidly as possible, they 

 should have an abundance of fresh air and ex- 

 ercise. Clear away the snow directly In front 

 of the brooder-house and make them run out for 

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