AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 



zel seed, and they are easily grown. Also try 

 growing a little rape or some Swiss chard for your 

 poultry if you have the room. 



With the approach of spring, give the fowls the 

 advantage of all the sunshine and fresh air possi- 

 Spring-time ble. A few balmy spring days have a 

 Management wonderful tonic effect upon a flock of 

 hens that have been persistently living " the simple 

 life " and producing few eggs during the winter; 

 their faces and combs will begin to redden, they 

 will begin to cackle and " sing," and if they are 

 given a little judicious care and management at 

 this time you will soon be enjoying " the lay of the 

 hen." Remember that fowls that are laying well 

 require more food than those that are forming no 

 product. In the spring, a hen will often " lay her- 

 self poor," as it were, on a ration that would be 

 ample were she not laying regularly. 



The man who is not well fixed for the business 

 should attempt neither very early nor very late- 

 The Best hatched chicks. Early chicks fetch 

 Months for the high prices, but are hard to raise 

 Hatching during bad weather. Late chicks are 

 weakened by the hot summer's sun, and lice are 

 most bothersome in the summer; besides, the mar- 

 ket is flooded with both old and young stock at this 

 time, and prices are decidedly unprofitable. My 

 advice to the unprofessional poultry keeper would 

 be to hatch no more chicks after the middle of 



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