AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 
zel seed, and they are easily grown. Also try 
growing a little rape or some Swiss chard for your 
poultry if you have the room. 
With the approach of spring, give the fowls the 
advantage of all the sunshine and fresh air possi- 
Spring-time ble. A few balmy spring days have a 
Management wonderful tonic effect upon a flock of 
hens that have been persistently living “‘ the simple 
life”? and producing few eggs during the winter; 
their faces and combs will begin to redden, they 
will begin to cackle and “sing,” and if they are 
given a little judicious care and management at 
this time you will soon be enjoying “‘ the Jay of the 
hen.” Remember that fowls that are laying well 
require more food than those that are forming no 
product. In the spring, a hen will often “ lay her- 
self poor,” as it were, on a ration that would be 
ample were she not laying regularly. 
The man who is not well fixed for the business 
should attempt neither very early nor very late- 
The Best hatched chicks. Early chicks fetch 
Months for _ the high prices, but are hard to raise 
Hatching during bad weather. Late chicks are 
weakened by the hot summer’s sun, and lice are 
most bothersome in the summer; besides, the mar- 
ket is flooded with both old and young stock at this 
time, and prices are decidedly unprofitable. My 
advice to the unprofessional poultry keeper would 
be to hatch no more chicks after the middle of 
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