13 



part of the feeding period the chicks should be fed little and 

 often, and should be kept busy and hungry between feedings. 

 Sour milk in a loppered condition is very desirable, as it not 

 only furnishes much food material, but the lactic acid present 

 acts as an internal disinfectant. A continuous effort should be 

 made to practice clean feeding, for nothing will upset the 

 digestive system quicker than sour and moldy feed. 



Hardening -off Process. 



In order to get the chicks in condition for removal to the 

 range it is necessary after the second week to practice a hard- 

 ening-off process. This should be gradual and consist of lower- 

 ing the temperature, with the idea of doing away with artifi- 

 cial heat entirely in from three to six weeks, depending upon 

 outside weather conditions. The best practice is to reduce the 

 artificial heat until it can be entirely given up, then gradually 

 to raise the hover until it can be entirely open, and replace 

 with muslin-covered frames, having them hung to the hover 

 wall, gradually raising them in front a little each night until 

 the chicks become used to their absence. It is impracticable to 

 take them from a warm, heated brooder house and put them 

 into a colony house unless they have been accustomed gradu- 

 ally to the change. The idea should be to get them on the 

 range as soon as possible. When they are four weeks of age, 

 the sooner they can be gotten out into the cool temperature in 

 large, well-ventilated quarters, with free range, an abundance 

 of green food and access to the ground, the better they will 

 grow and the hardier and more vigorous will they be at ma- 

 turity. 



This hardening-off process is especially desirable with Leg- 

 horns, as their close feathering makes them susceptible to cold 

 weather, and when not properly weaned they pile on top of 

 one another to keep warm. This usually results in the death 

 of many and a loss of vitality to the others. 



After the chicks are weaned and placed on the range the 

 aim should be to induce a continuous growth throughout the 

 summer. Any checks or setbacks which they might be sub- 

 jected to, due to improper feeding or care, will result in irreg- 

 ular maturity and lack of uniformity. There are two factors. 



