market. If you wish to keep a really high productive flock 

 of birds that will produce for five or six years, which by the 

 way is much cheaper than buying pullets every year, or even 

 raising them, be careful of your feeding and the use of 

 lights. Keep the mites out of the houses, the lice off of their 

 bodies, and the worms out of their bodies. Be gentle with 

 them from the very beginning and raise them to be tame. It 

 is a splendid plan to always make your presence known when 

 passing from one house or run to another. Also strangers 

 entering your premises should be requested to use great care 

 is not frightening the birds. Many millions of eggs are 

 scared out of poultry flocks every year when a little good 

 judgment in the management and care of poultry flocks 

 would obviate this trouble. 



CHICKS HATCHED EARLY ARE MOST PROFITABLE 



Late hatched chicks are not so profitable as those hatched 

 early. Chickens hatched in March or the early part of April 

 will be laying in five months or less, with proper care. 

 Whereas chickens hatched one month later will not lay until 

 six and one-half or seven months old. This means two 

 months extra feeding without returns. 



Better layers and better broilers are obtained from March 

 and early pullets as they have more vitality, are more hardy 

 and are better able to withstand the cold weather than May 

 hatched pullets. Early hatched pullets make better winter 

 layers when eggs bring handsome profits. Early hatched 

 broilers are worth more per pound than from the May 

 hatched. 



Cull out weak chicks as they are a constant source of ex- 

 pense and danger. They are always the first to become in- 

 fected with parasites or to contract diseases which may 

 spread to the healthier chicks in the flock. A chick which is 

 decidedly lacking in vigor should be killed. It is of no value 

 in itself and is a constant menace to the flock. Be on the 

 lookout for choice breeding stock from the time the chicks 

 are hatched and continue till they are fully grown. When 

 certain chicks are noticeably more vigorous and make more 

 rapid growth than the remainder, they should be marked. 

 A satisfactory way of marking is with a celluloid band 

 around the leg or a punch through the web of the foot. 



Chick mortality is especially high because the little birds 

 frequently are not sufficiently strong to throw off disease. 



15 



