40 HOW TO HATCH, BROOD, FEED AND PREVENT 



weeks in bad weather, and they were as comfortable as could be. They 

 are safe from vermin, too, for nothing can get into this roosting place. 

 One great advantage in having a feed yard is, the chicks have so much 

 room, and the stronger ones do not trample the weak ones to death as they 

 would if confined in the brooder any length of time. I never let my chicks 

 out in the morning until the dew is all off the grass. I place the water and 

 feed in the closed feed yard in the evening, after the chicks have gone to 

 roost in the brooder. I sweep the feed yard first, if it needs it, place food, 

 put more chaff and grit in, then close the door until morning. All I have 

 to do in the morning is to open the little door between the feed yard and 

 the brooder, and let my chicks out into the feed yard to their feed. I turn 

 up the flame of the brooder lamp a little, so it will make it more comforta- 

 ble in the feed yard, then I go about my work and do not pay any more at- 

 tention to them until after the sun comes out warm and the dew is all gone, 

 when I open the feed yard door and let them out. That is why I can raise 

 so many chickens. This feed yard saves so much time; it is fine to put 

 your chicks in after you wean them from the brooder. It is large and can ac- 

 commodate almost a hundred grown fowls. In early spring I sometimes place 

 a jug of hot water in the feed yard early in the morning, but this is not 

 necessary only in cold weather. You should have two feed yards to each 

 brooder, so you can use one for your three- weeks-old chicks that you have 

 just taken from the brooder, to roost in so you can have the brooder for the 

 next hatch. Be sure to close the little door between the feed yard and 

 brooder at night so that the heat may be all retained in the brooder to 

 keep the chicks comfortable. This feed yard and brooder can be moved to 

 any part of the farm in just a few minutes. Sometimes it becomes neces- 

 sary to move your chicks, so as to avoid disease. For the health of your 

 flock, your brooder should be moved to a clean place often. Choose a nice 

 grassy spot if possible. ^An orchard is a fine place and gives the necessary 

 shade, which is very essential for the welfare of your little chicks in 

 extreme warm weather. 



