THE YEAR'S WORK 155 



Be sure that the chickens are not crowded at night. 



When confined, pullets and cockerels should not 

 be allowed in the same flock after it is possible to 

 tell them apart, even though hatched late. 



SEPTEMBER 



An excelient time to build the new poultry house, 

 so that it will be well dried out before Winter comes. 



Haul clean sand into the old houses and get them 

 into condition for the season's pullets. 



If the chickens must be confined on account of 

 bad weather, give them litter and throw grain into 

 it, which will help to keep them interested. When 

 chicks that have been accustomed to free range are 

 closely confined, they fret themselves fairly thin. 



Let the pullets be used to open air houses from 

 the first and they will grow a heavy coat of feath- 

 ers, so that they will be ready for fresh air laying 

 houses in Winter. In other words, they will be 

 inured to the cold. 



This is a good month for a beginner to start with 

 mature birds, which often can be secured at a bar- 

 gain. If the amateur wants to build up a good 

 strain, he can afford to buy yearlings from a re- 

 liable breeder. He may get fewer eggs than from 



