416 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



Rearing in Restricted Quarters. The back yard poultry 

 keeper faces a serious situation when attempting to rear chicks, 

 yet good results can be obtained on a small area. If one has 

 no more room than is necessary for the fowls, it is useless 

 to try to raise chicks in his back yard, because chicks can- 

 not occupy the same ground as the fowls and do well; nor 

 can they occupy ground that has been fouled to any extent. 

 Under such conditions, arrangements must be made to have 

 the chicks grown away from home, and care should be taken 

 to get them into the right hands and to be sure that they 

 have suitable quarters and proper feed. If the home quar- 

 ters are of a fair size, it is possible to grow very good chickens 

 by giving them extra care. The same method of cooping 

 should be followed as if they were on range and the outdoor 

 runs should be frequently spaded over. The location of the 

 coop and yard should be changed every few days if possible, 

 and some small grain which sprouts quickly planted in each 

 spot as soon as it is vacated. As the chicks can not develop 

 muscle and will not be healthy or strong without exercise, 

 they must be made to scratch vigorously in litter for the dry 

 grain part of their ration. 



Cleanliness is absolutely necessary in all cases, and the 

 coop must be cleaned at frequent intervals and occasionally 

 disinfected, especially the floor. If, as the chicks grow, they 

 fill the coop to a point where it becomes crowded, the flocks 

 must be divided, for each chick should have ample room to 

 sit on the floor comfortably at night. When the youngsters 

 are half-grown they may be given roosts placed lengthwise 

 of the coop, two being as many as can be used satisfactorily 

 in a coop of the dimensions we have mentioned. These roosts 

 should be of good size, but round enough on top so that the 

 toes of the chicks can curl around them, as Nature intended, 

 when the chicks sit down. 



Lice will injure or even destroy a flock of chicks if given 

 any lee-way, and liquid mite killer should be used on the 

 floors of the coops and on the roosts when the roosts are 

 put in. The chicks should be dusted thoroughly with a lice 

 killing powder, if any lice are discovered on them, and one 

 should search industriously for vermin at frequent intervals. 

 (H. A. N.) 



