n6 



OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



houses full by December, but usually it takes until January to 

 complete hatching, and sometimes it takes longer. The price 

 paid for eggs for hatching is only a little above the price of 



market eggs, and the buyer 

 takes all the risks of poor 

 hatches. The chickens are 

 kept in warm brooder houses 

 as long as they need artificial 

 heat, then they are removed 

 to cold brooder houses of the 

 same type or to colony houses. 

 Those who have land enough 

 use mostly colony houses. 



FIG. 1 13. House used for growing roast- 

 ing chickens 



While in the heated brooder 

 houses the chickens are fed 

 in the regular way with mixed ground grains, either dry or 

 moistened, and small whole or cracked grains. After they leave 

 the brooder houses they have cracked corn, beef scrap, and 

 water always before them ; for green food they have cabbage 

 or the winter rye or grass growing on the land. 



As the object of the grower is to have chickens that will grow 

 large and remain soft as long as possible, the breeds used are 



FIG. 114. Group of houses like that in Fig. 113 



principally Light Brahmas and Plymouth Rocks, although when 

 eggs of these varieties cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities, 

 Wyandottes are used. The cockerels are caponized when they 

 are about two months old. A capon does not grow a comb or 



