222 MAKING POULTRY PAY 



riorate in size. Because Plymouth Rocks as now bred 

 approach closely to the size attained by Brahmas in this 

 locality, mature one to two months quicker and will 

 lay more eggs, explains why they are becoming so pop- 

 ular. Plymouth Rocks also have the advantage over 

 Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds in being from one 

 to two pounds heavier. 



After the chicks are hatched they are placed in 

 the brooders where they are kept until they feather 

 out and are able to get along without artificial heat. 

 Both the long, continuous brooder and individual 

 brooders are used. After the chickens are feathered, 

 or when they are from ten to twelve weeks old, they 

 are placed in colony houses six by eight feet in size 

 as shown in Figure 96. Fifty chickens are put in a 

 house. Xo roosts are provided in the houses, which 

 are cleaned out once or twice during the season. The 

 fowls are given free range and as snow seldom lavs 

 on the ground longer than two or three days at a time, 

 they are out doors practically every dav. 



They are fed exclusively on cracked corn and 

 beef scrap which is kept in self feeders constantly 

 before them. They are also provided with water, and 

 green food is furnished in the form of cabbages, etc. 



Most of the cockerels are caponized. Some of 

 the growers perform the operation themselves, while 

 others hire experts to do it. The loss is small, but 

 about twenty-five per cent will prove to be "slips." 



Two or three men make a business of buying, kill- 

 ing and dressing the fowls. With large wagons thev 

 visit the raisers once a week and together pick out 

 what chickens are ready for market. It is a nice point 

 to know just when a roaster is ripe. This is the point 

 when they will cease to make profitable gains. ^Mth 

 the pullets it is when they begin to lay. .\ Brahma 

 pullet may lay for a week or two without materiallv 



