182 POULTRYIY-CRAFT. 
style shown in Fig. 46. In these they can be colonized until the time comes 
for putting them into winter quarters. When removed to these coops, they 
should be confined to, and fed in them, for a few days, until they will return 
to them when let out. Directions for feeding are giving in 4146, 21—28. 
Beyond keeping the coops clean, supplying food and water regularly, clos- 
ing the coops at night, and opening them in the morning, the chicks now 
should need no care—even the closing and opening of coops may be 
omitted if there is no danger of their being molested at night. 
264. Teaching Chicks to Roost.— Chicks of Leghorn and other light 
weight breeds will begin roosting of their own accord when six or eight weeks 
old. Chicks of the heavier breeds often do not roost until taught to do so by 
the keeper. The general practice is to keep chicks of medium sized breeds on 
the floor until about three months old, and chicks of the largest breeds for a 
month or two longer. Unless the floor is kept clean and the chicks well 
bedded, it is better to teach all to roost early. If suitable wide roosts are used 
there is no more danger of crooked breasts than on the floor, and many poul- 
trymen think the general advantages of getting the youngsters on the roosts 
where they cannot crowd and huddle in corners, and are not soiled by their 
own and each other’s droppings, more than compensate for what keel bones 
are twisted. 
Often chicks can be taught to roost by putting in low roosts and placing 
with them one or two old hens or chicks that are in the habit of roosting. If 
this plan cannot be tried, or does not work, a wide board should be placed 
close to the wall, about a foot from the ground, and the chicks placed on it 
after dark, night after night, until they will go to it of their own accord. 
After that, a wide roost the regulation distance from the wall, may be substi- 
tuted for the board. 
265. Separating the Sexes.— When the chicks are weaned the cock- 
erels and pullets of the more precocious breeds should be separated. The 
slow maturing breeds may be allowed to run together for four or five months 
if it is not convenient to keep them apart; but in any case the separation 
should be made at a relatively early age — before the cockerels begin to annoy 
the pullets. If the young males can be put where they never see a fowl of 
the opposite sex, they live together more peaceably, and develop better. There 
is not often any difficulty in distinguishing the sexes when the time comes for 
separating them. Once in a while there is a cockerel which looks more like 
a female than a male at that age; but sucha bird is not likely to annoy the 
pullets, and if put with the cockerels may be buffeted about a great deal. 
266. Rearing Chicks in Confinement.— Chicks reared specially for 
market are always kept quite closely confined, that all food eaten may go to 
the production of flesh; but there is a feeling among poultry raisers that stock 
