200 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



Inexperienced poultry keepers are very apt to make a great 

 mistake in rearing chickens, by neglecting those a month old 

 and upwards, for the younger broods. The reason of this is 

 not difficult to realise, for, it is thought that the birds, having 

 got so far in safety, are able to look after themselves, and 

 do not require the same amount of attention as the younger 

 ones ; whereas, the fact really is, that the birds at the. age 

 mentioned, need actually more care than they ever did 

 before, or will again. Doctors tell parents that boys and girls 

 in their teens need more support than at any other time. 

 So it is with chicks ; and neglect at this period is attended 

 with very serious results, more birds being lost then, than at 

 any other stage of their growth. The cause is, that the down 

 or nest-feathers, which have enveloped the body, are being 

 shed, and the full-grown feathers taking their place, thus 

 causing a continual drain upon the system ; it is, in fact, a 

 first moult, and there is not the same strength to meet it as is 

 found in adult birds. Extra warmth, additional nourishment, 

 and careful feeding, are all most important to the well-being 

 of the chick, and undue exposure to cold or wet will be very 

 dangerous, and ought to be guarded against. Of course, 

 some breeds are hardier than others, and get through this 

 stage much more easily, but the strongest need such care as 

 we have indicated. In fine open weather the feeding will be 

 the great point requiring attention, but, in bad weather, it 

 will be a good plan to put the coop inside the chicken-house. 



When the coop is outside it is better to have a wire run 

 for the chicks, though this can be discarded after the first 

 week, and the birds allowed to run about freely. At the end 

 of another week the hen may be allowed out also ; but she 

 must be kept within an enclosure, or be watched, for, if left 

 alone, she will probably lead them away too far, and tax their 

 strength more than they can bear. For food, oatmeal, 

 Spratt's, or Chamberlin's prepared meals, may be given 



