THIRTY USEFUL DEVICES 



117 



cylinder into each tank. This operation, repeated sev- 

 eral times a day by the attendant, provides ample 

 exercise. 



Cutting Wings If a person cares to, it is possible 

 to cut the wings when the chickens are so young that 

 their flying ability will be effectually impaired for all 

 time. This will often prove to be a great advantage, 

 especially with fowls of the Leghorn, Hamburg and 

 Minorca breeds. This is not difficult nor painful to 

 the chick, if done at the right time, and consists simply 

 in cutting the wing at the last joint; the portion cut 



FIG 115: SHIELD FOR INJURED FOWLS 



off is but a trifle when the chick is young, but when 

 it is developed it makes quite a material difference in 

 its wing power, so much so that it is a comparatively 

 small matter to confine them, and so far as practica- 

 bility is concerned, it does not impair their useful 

 qualities in the least. If the work is done when the 

 chicken is about ten or twelve days old, it is scarcely 

 painful, and the chick soon recovers its usual activity. 

 Trimming Combs The drawbacks of large 

 combs and wattles are freezing in our northern states 

 and the discomforts and strain resulting from carrying 



