340 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
the best winter layers. Large breeds should be hatched 
early, to secure laying pullets before winter. Small 
breeds will do well enough, hatched the last of April. 
See that the hens are set properly on the nests, carefully 
made, and guard against lice on sitting hens. Watch 
the hens, to be sure they attend to business. Fix up 
the brooders and coops for the chickens. Lath fences 
for the fowls can be nailed together indoors in stormy 
weather. 
April.—Feed the laying hens plenty of egg-making 
food, such as meat and cut bone. The early chicks 
should have increasing attention. Feed them often, but 
only what they will eat up clean. Supply with fresh 
water, fresh charcoal, fine, coarse grit or fresh sand. <A 
good food for young chickens consists of one pound corn 
meal, one-half pound middlings, one and one-half pounds 
ground meat, two ounces bone meal and a very little 
salt, mixed with milk or water, and baked, then fed 
in crumbs every two hours. After the first week, three 
or four times a day will be often enough to feed, except 
when finishing for market. Hens which prove good 
mothers may be given two broods of the same age, join- 
ing the broods at night. 
May.—The early chicks should be pushed with plenty 
of wholesome food and a good variety. They should be 
given some soft feed each day. Give them as free a 
range as possible. Cracked corn should be fed with care 
to very young chicks. A ration of bones and meat once 
a week will be sufficient for chicks. Hatching may be 
continued for the smaller breeds, but the Asiatics and 
other large breeds should be all out before this month. 
Lice may give some trouble this month, and should be 
fought with vigor. Provide a dust bath. Rub fresh. 
insect powder upon sitting hens. Whitewash and fumi- 
gate the houses. Kerosene the roosts. Don’t give the 
chicks soured food. 
