No. 4.] POULTRY KEEPING ON THE FARM. 349 



whatever the weather. They should, however, by every 

 means possible be induced to keep out in the fresh air and 

 take exercise as they would with the mother hen in the 

 pleasant spring weather. These hints will also apply to a 

 considerable extent to chicks raised by the natural method. 

 One of the secrets of successful chicken raising is to keep 

 them constantly growing. To do this, no condition can be 

 tolerated which gives the animal a check in its development. 

 As soon as the young pullets can be distinguished from the 

 cockerels, the birds of different sexes should be separated, 

 and the pullets at any rate should be given free and abun- 

 dant pasture range. They will thus obtain a sure supply of 

 green food, and will usually find considerable animal food in 

 the form of grasshoppers, worms and various insects, which 

 will help to balance the grain food commonly supplied them. 

 The poultryman is fortunate if he is able to pasture the 

 growing birds where they can easily find running water to 

 drink. 



Selling the Products. 



Sell direct to the consumer, if possible. Dispose of the 

 poultry products at the time when the condition of the same 

 and the state of the market yield the greatest net profit. In 

 some localities a chicken will bring more as a broiler (at one 

 or two pounds) or as a young roaster (three to four pounds) 

 than at maturity, and the food and care necessary for the 

 added growth and weight may be saved. In culling out the 

 chicks to be killed and sold as dressed poultry, do not sacri- 

 fice the promising young thoroughbreds. Save them for 

 breeders, to replenish your stock, and, in case of a surplus, 

 especially of cockerels, to sell to other poultry men. In dis- 

 })Osing of eggs, some poultry keepers find it profitable to sell 

 to special customers, who are ready to pay more than the 

 market price for them. Ordinarily, however, the eggs will 

 go into the regular market. Even in this case it pays to be 

 careful that the product is fresh laid, clean and uniform in 

 size and color. This problem of the successful disposal of 

 poultry products after the labor and care of their production 

 is one which varies greatly, according to the conditions in 

 each case. It must be studied out on the spot. Fortunate 



