46 LATE HATCHING 



When it comes to the heavy varieties, such as the 

 various breeds of Asiatics, Cochins, Brahmas, etc., 

 the preference is given to the earlier hatches, but 

 not so with the smaller breeds. Even in the 

 American varieties, among which are the Plymouth 

 Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Wyandottes, the 

 May hatched chicks are very popular. True, the 

 American varieties do not develop as rapidly as the 

 Leghorns and other smaller varieties, but never- 

 theless the May pullet, if given the right chance, 

 will lay before the snow flies. 



If the eggs from stock with the proper health 

 and vigor are used for hatching, and if the chicks 

 when hatched receive that attention necessary for 

 their steady growth and development, there is no 

 question that May hatched chicks from the Amer- 

 ican breeds are very desirable. They have many 

 things in their favor, chief among which are 

 enough natural advantages to make them grow more 

 rapidly than those hatched during an earlier period 

 of the season. Sunshine, air, fresh soil, green grass, 

 and natural surroundings will do wonders for the 

 newly hatched chicks, and one week under such con- 

 ditions will bring about more development than 

 two weeks of close confinement indoors, with less 

 air, little sunshine, no tender grasses, and hard 

 boards to run on. 



Artificial rearing of chicks does not mean that 

 the chicks can be successfully deprived of all things 



