116 PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



built on the colony plan so they can be moved from place 

 to place, thus providing fresh ground for the chicks to range 

 over. A type of growing house such as has been used suc- 

 cessfully wiU be found in Figure 115. 



In placing the chicks in their growing house for the first 

 time it is best to confine them for several days, erecting a 

 temporary yard so that they will know where to return after 

 allowed free range. Care should be taken not to crowd the 

 chicks by placing too many in any one house. As the 

 chicks increase in size they should be thinned out and placed 

 in other houses, so as to avoid crowding. Colony brooders 

 can be used for the growing stock after there is no longer 



Figure 114. — Chicks on free range obtain considerable food such as worms, bugs, 

 etc., that helps considerably to reduce the cost of feeding. 



need for artificial heat. In such cases, however, it is usually 

 advisable to provide additional growing quarters to prevent 

 crowding. 



Free range. Plenty of free range should be provided, 

 if the chicks are to make rapid, vigorous growth. Confin- 

 ing the chicks to a limited range not only increases the ten- 

 dency to disease and slowness of growth, but tends to increase 

 the cost of feeding. 



Shade. Plenty of shade should be provided for grow- 

 ing chicks in order that they may thrive and grow in hot 

 weather. 



Chicks allowed to range in an orchard will not only find 



