Chaptkr VII. 

 GROWING EARLY BROILERvS. 



The early bird catcJics the wcnni . 



Early eggs, early siilrrs ; eai ly sitters, eat ly e//ieA-i-f/s : ea> Iv 

 chickens, early eggs ami eaily profits. — Tim. 



Broiler chickens are chickens of suitable size for 

 broiling. The size established by convenience and 

 custom is a weight of one to two and a half pounds 

 each. When much above this weight they pass as 

 roasting chickens. Birds of this weight are tender 

 and toothsome and are consumed mostly by persons 

 who are able to pay well for the gratification of their 

 tastes. The demand comes from wealthy private 

 families and high-class hotels and restaurants. 



The market for broilers opens soon after the New 

 Year begins but is not at its best until asparagus 

 appears. From the middle of JNIarch to the middle of 

 June, a period of three months, there is generally a 

 brisk demand for them. With the beginning of Jul}-, 

 light-weight broilers are little called for, heavier 

 weights are wanted, and as the weight goes up the 

 price' goes down, so that the poultry keeper finds it to 

 his interest to keep his birds and feed them until they 

 reach the "roasting " size, say six to eight pounds per 

 pair. Growing broilers is winter work, as they must 

 all be hatched and reared during the most unfavorable 

 season for such operations. Hatching begins in No- 

 vember and ends with April, for the chickens, except 



