FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 



47 



Method of Punch 

 Marking Chicks. 



The usual practice is to mark chicks according to the mating from 

 which they came. Sometimes, however, each brood is given its special 

 mark. As the accompanying cut shows, it is possible to make fifteen 

 combinations of punch marks in the four webs. 



Culling Chicks as Taken from the Nests. 



A vigorous weeding out of deformed and weak chicks at this time is 

 good insurance against trouble and loss afterwards. It pays to kill at 

 this stage, every chick that does not seem to be just right. Some of the 

 weaklings may outgrow their weakness if given a chance, but many more 

 will not, and the bes^t way Is to take no chance on a chick that does not 

 seem to be a good chick. The loss on that chick is less now than it will 

 be at any later stage, and the common experience has been that the great 

 majority of the deformed or weak chicks allowed to live, make a loss at 

 some time. 



Some minor troubles, like club feet and crooked beaks, do not materially 

 affect the health of the chick, but, on general principles, and for the sake 

 of the good looks of the flock, it is \vell to dispose of these also. 



How Many Chicks to a Hen ? 



If the chicks are all of one color, the hens will take chicks hatched by 

 other hens, but if there are chicks of several colors hatched at the same 

 time, unless a hen hatched all colors one must be careful in giving her odd 

 looking chicks. Some will take them; others will kill them. 



With chicks all of one kind and age, then they may be divided up as 

 desired among the hens selected for mothers. 



As long as the weather is at all cool, nine or ten chicks is enough for an 

 ordinary sized hen, and twelve or thirteen for a large one. As the season 

 advances, more may be given, but I have found results much-better In 

 growth and quality of chicks when I never went very far beyond these 

 figures. 



I have given as high as forty chicks to a hen, and had them live and 

 grow to be healthy. I have run eighteen to twenty chicks with medium 

 sized hens, and had quite satisfactory results. But comparing the general 

 results under such conditions with results when broods were smaller, I 

 have, for years, rarely given over twelve chicks to a medium sized hen, or 

 fifteen to a large one, and think the better results well worth what little 

 additional work the greater number of broods makes. 



Where to Place the Coops. 



There is not always opportunity for choice in this matter. With 

 many there is just one spot available for coops, and the question becomes 

 how best to handle chicks in this place. But when there are different 

 situations available, that should be selected which best combines the two 

 points we have already emphasized once in this lesson, 1. e., the comfort 

 of the hens and chicks, and the convenience of the attendant. 



The best place for chicken coops, and for young chickens, is in an 

 orchard which furnishes abundance of sun and shade. If an orchard 

 near the dwelling can be used for chicks, this is quite the ideal place; and, 

 of course, if on a small place, the few coops of chicks can be placed 

 under the few fruit trees the place may have, we have the same con- 

 ditions on a small scale. 



Another good place is near a hedge, where the coops of the hens may be 

 shaded at least a part of the day, while the chicks can run in the shade of 

 the hedge, or out into the open fields at will. The conditions for the 

 chicks may be just as good as in an orchard, but the coops have to be 

 extended in lines, and cannot be as compactly placed as in an orchard 

 where they may be in parallel rows, and the attendant can look after 

 them without going over so much ground. 



