24 



COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



less delicate. This is accounted for by several reasons. Nearly 

 all of the eggs breeds have large combs and pendulous wattles, 

 hence they are sensitive to cold. It has been found, however, that 

 if the poultry houses are kept dry by adequate ventilation, and 

 the fowls are given suitable roosting quarters, there is little trouble 

 from frost-bite, even in climates where the temperature goes below 

 freezing for months at a time. The fact that the young chicks 





Fig. 10. — Single Comb White Leghorn. 



feather very quickly, which is a great drain on their systems, was 

 accepted as another reason for making them delicate for a time. 

 Being imported froni countries that are warm and sunny the 

 greater part of the year, it was to be expected that these Mediter- 

 ranean breeds should be influenced by our northern winters at 

 first. Now, however, they have been bred here so long that they 

 are in the main thoroughly acclimated, and little fear need be 

 entertained as to their hardihood. 



