MANAGEMENT OF FOWLS 



99 



FIG. 96. Small house for growing chicks 

 in Maine orchard 



Management of growing chicks. Of course, healthy chickens 

 are growing all the time, and growing at a very rapid rate, too ; 

 but after the chicks are weaned, they have usually reached the 



point in growth when the 

 increase in size in a short 

 period is very noticeable. 

 So poultry keepers commonly 

 speak of chickens from wean- 

 ing time until maturity as 

 growing chicks. At this time 

 the rudest kind of shelter will 

 suit them as well as any. In- 

 deed, they hardly need shelter 

 from the weather at all. The 

 most essential things are a 

 good range, apart from the old fowls, and an abundance of food. 

 They should be able to pick up a great deal of food for them- 

 selves, but should have enough given them to make sure that 

 they always have all 

 the food they can 

 eat. It does not 

 pay to stint them 

 to make them for- 

 age farther. Young 

 chickens will always 

 take all the exercise 

 that they need if 

 they have the op- 

 portunity, and the 

 more they eat the 

 better they grow. 



When the range near their coops ceases to afford them good 

 picking, the coops should be moved to a place where the food 

 to be secured by foraging is more abundant. 





FIG. 97. Small house for growing chicks, in orchard 

 in New York State 



