BROODING THE CHICKS 83 



ment for the chicks to enter. This difficulty is 

 overcome by placing a hot water bottle on top of 

 the brooder. That provides the warmth needed 

 and acts like a magnet. Once the chicks get the 

 habit of running into the brooder when cold, they 

 will keep it up after the water bag has been re- 

 moved and will keep each other warm. When only 

 a few chicks are to be raised and after the season 

 is well advanced, the fireless brooder is to be recom- 

 mended. 



After the chicks are gotten onto the ground, they 

 will make rapid progress, but must be protected 

 from hawks and cats. There is no better place 

 for them to run than a patch of corn, where they 

 will be safe from the hawks and will have ade- 

 quate shade. Wherever confined, shade of some 

 kind must be given or growth will be checked. An 

 orchard run is good, but it must be remembered that 

 after grass gets old, it is so tough that young chicks 

 cannot eat it, and so must be given other green 

 stuff. When the young birds are eight or nine 

 weeks old, the sexes should be separated for best 

 results. The surplus cockerels should be fattened 

 and marketed, and by the first of October the pullets 

 should be in their winter quarters. 



