CHAPTER XI 



REARING CHICKS AFTER BROODING AGE 



THE best time to wean the chicks from the 

 mother hen depends a great deal more 

 upon the hen than upon the chicks; some 

 hens will leave their chicks and commence laying 

 again before the chicks can safely be left to look 

 Weaning out for themselves, while others will 

 the Chicks s tay with the chicks for weeks some- 

 times until after they have returned to laying. 



As a general thing it is a good plan to allow the 

 chicks to have as much of the time and attention of 

 the old hen as she is willing to give them, unless 

 she is exceptionally persistent in remaining with 

 them for a long time, preventing them from get- 

 ting hardened off properly. 



With brooder chicks, the proper time for chang- 

 ing them from the brooders to the more inde- 

 pendent colony life depends largely upon the 

 breed, the weather, the location, and the shelter 

 and care that will be provided for them. The 

 little ones should be sufficiently well feathered to 

 insure protection from sudden climatic changes and 



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